Illinois Looking to Block Access to Self-Excluded Gamblers from Gaming Machines

The state of Illinois is looking to address all aspects of the state’s problem gambling crisis, arguing that it is now looking into ensuring that all loopholes are eliminated. One such is the availability of video gambling terminals which can still be accessed by people on the self-exclusion list, which in theory stops players from participating in any type of gambling for the period of exclusion. Illinois Looks to Root Out Problem Gamblers’ Access to Gaming Terminals But video gaming terminals pose a challenge, as self-exclusion does not currently apply to the state’s network of video gambling terminals, which is the largest in the world. The Illinois Gaming Board has pitched new rules on Thursday, looking to ensure that the state’s network of nearly 50,000 such machines is also covered by self-exclusion prerequisites. Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter commented that the idea to also include these video gaming terminals on the state’s self-exclusion list is another crucial step to ensuring that players are truly protected in Illinois. “We are decidedly on the right path and will continue driving forward, but we will do so in a focused, collaborative, intentional, and efficient manner as we advance this critical initiative,” Fruchter explained during the meeting of the Board last week. The Board has called such a measure a “public health priority,” and the regulator has a point. If players are excluded from casino gambling, sports betting, and the lottery, they should also be excluded from the slot-like machines available virtually across the entire state. The new rules proposed by the Board want to make it so that the game machines do not accept cash any longer, and switch to another method that can also help with the verification of who is playing. Players would be required to purchase vouchers through a dedicated device and use cash or digital payment to pay for them, at which point their identity will be identified, confirming that they are of the legal gambling age (21) and ensuring that they are not on the exclusion list. Video Gaming Terminals Can Finally Be Upgraded Players may also use a video gaming account, but this is voluntary as long as players’ identity has been confirmed. Operators will also have to ensure that people who end up opening video gaming accounts also have the means to set responsible gambling limits, including self-exclusion, and also ensure that people who are already self-excluded cannot proceed to open an account. While previous efforts to do the same have been marred by technological hindrances, the technology is finally here to ensure that the state’s tens of thousands of video game machines can be upgraded efficiently to comply with the new rules.