An 18-year-old wanna-be gambler illegally entered Parx Casino and later retreated to the parking lot for a firecracker-accompanied joyride. The lapse that allowed his entry proved costly for the Bensalem business, reports Andrew Maykuth for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

On September 16, the underage male snuck into Parx when security guards were attending to guests’ COVID-19 protocols at the valet entrance.

He played a series of slot machines (illegally), met a man later identified as his grandfather, and then left the gaming hall after being inside for 47 minutes.

He then drove a gray Saturn around the parking lot, tossing lit firecrackers to the pavement behind him.

That action caught the attention of the casino’s security detail, which intervened. A Pennsylvania State Police check unearthed the gambler-pyrotechnician’s age and the illegality attached to his entry.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board fined Parx $12,500 for the security breach.

The teenager, unidentified by a consent agreement, pled guilty to charges of illegally entering a casino and disorderly conduct.

His dreams of a big casino payoff in Bensalem have been officially snuffed, which is one major way to ensure a non-entry.

He is now permanently banned from Parx Casino properties.

More on this story is at The Philadelphia Inquirer.