Underage Gambler Caught — But Only After He Won $1,300 On Slot Machines

SCHENECTADY — A security officer at Rivers Casino who allowed an underage player onto the gaming floor on Valentine's Day was unqualified and lack the proper training for the job, according to the findings of a state investigation, and the gambling hall was fined a total of $6,000 for two separate violations. A March 7 letter sent by the state Gaming Commission to Mary Cheeks, general manager of Rivers Casinso & Resort, states the advanced identification detection scanner at the entrance to the casino floor was functioning and the security officer was alerted "that the individual seeking entry was underage, but the alert was disregarded." "Rivers Casino & Resort personnel admitted knowledge that the security officer staffing the entrance where the underaged individual accessed the floor was unqualified for the position and lacked sufficient training to prevent underage access to the gaming floor," the commission wrote.