The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved a consent agreement presented by the Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC) during its public meeting resulting in a fine of $125,000 against Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC for 10 incidents in which underage individuals gained access to the gaming floor at the casino it operates.

The incidents, which occurred over a 20-month period at Wind Creek Bethlehem in Northampton County, involved 11 individuals between the ages of 18 and 20.

A copy of the approved consent agreement offering more details is available upon request through the Board’s Office of Communications.

The Board also acted to ban, or leave intact an earlier ban, of three adults from all casinos in the Commonwealth for leaving minors unattended in order to engage in gaming activities:

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• A male and a female patron were placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 5-month-old unattended in a running vehicle while the outside temperature was 47 degrees in the parking garage of Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack in Delaware County for 30 minutes while he gambled at a table game.
• A female patron’s request to be removed from the Board’s Involuntary Exclusion List for a 2017 incident in which she left a 4-year-old unattended while in Rivers Philadelphia Casino was denied. The child was unattended for 15 minutes in a non-running vehicle in the parking lot while the outside temperature was 95 degrees.

The Board’s actions serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. Leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino also subjects the offending adult to criminal prosecution in addition to exclusion from all Pennsylvania casinos. To complement the efforts by casinos to mitigate this issue, the Board created an awareness campaign, “Don’t Gamble with Kids”.

Galaxy Gaming has appointed Steve Kopjo as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer. Amid an impressive career in the gaming industry, Kopjo joins Galaxy Gaming on May 28, bringing extensive experience from senior finance and accounting positions held at various publicly traded gaming companies. With a proven track record of success, Kopjo is set to assume a pivotal role on the Executive leadership team, steering Galaxy Gaming through its next phase of growth and evolution.

With over 15 years of experience in the gaming industry, Kopjo began his career at Ernst & Young as an auditor for casino operators, acquiring his CPA license. Kopjo developed an eclectic skillset in Technical Accounting, Investor Relations, Corporate Finance, and Mergers & Acquisitions through a series of roles with both operators and suppliers, including SHLF entertainment, Wynn Resorts, Play AGS, and most recently as Vice President of Finance at Everi Holdings. Kopjo was a key member of the Play AGS team that led the company’s successful IPO in 2018. At Everi Holdings since 2021, he managed debt restructuring, investor relations, FP&A, and board of director communications, and played a pivotal role in several successful mergers and acquisitions.

The appointment of Kopjo represents a significant move for Galaxy Gaming, as the Company looks to maintain its recent momentum while transitioning long-serving CFO, Harry Hagerty, to a Strategic Advisor role, from which he will continue to serve the company as a resource and contributor on strategic initiatives. Galaxy has been fortunate to have had Hagerty in the CFO role for the past seven years, during which he helped the company grow while negotiating the redemption of the founder and helping to weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve as the latest casino gaming expert to join our talented and ambitious Galaxy Gaming team. His experience, leadership, work ethic, and contagious energy will without a doubt contribute to our continued growth and success. While it is never easy to replace someone like Harry Hagerty, we are proud of how we have supported his transition from a full-time C-suite role and continue to leverage his valuable experience as a strategic advisor,” Matt Reback, President and CEO at Galaxy Gaming, said.

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“I’ve known Steve for years as a versatile finance professional with a history of navigating complex financial landscapes, executing successful merger and acquisition transactions, optimizing resource allocation through financial, planning and analysis, cultivating strong investor relationships, and ensuring precision in technical accounting. His skills and personality are a strong fit for Galaxy Gaming,” Reback added.

“I was honored to be considered and ultimately selected for this role by Galaxy Gaming. I am excited to join a company with such a respected board of directors, talented leadership team, and robust business foundation. I have watched Galaxy Gaming from afar and always believed it was poised for continued growth, further solidifying its leading position in the gaming industry. I can’t wait to join the team and support the commitment to strategic product innovation. I look forward to bringing my experience to bear as we explore ways to maximize shareholder value, ensuring Galaxy Gaming remains at the forefront of industry excellence,” Steve Kopjo said.