DES MOINES - The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on Thursday handed out $3,000 fines to both the Argosy Casino in Sioux City and the Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg for violations of the state policy that allows problem gamblers to voluntarily bar themselves from casinos.

The Argosy Casino was fined for failing to upload the names of a total of eight gamblers who enrolled in the self exclusion program to an Iowa Gaming Association database that's disseminated to all the casinos in the state.

The Wild Rose Casino was fined for allowing a gambler who had signed up for the program to receive a "Player's Club" card and to play slot machines at the casino.

The commission could have given both casinos fines up of to $20,000 for the violations but decided on the lesser sum because it was the first such offense for both establishments.

Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.