Illinois Gaming Board proposes expanding self-exclusion to video gaming

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has unanimously approved proposed rules to extend the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program to its network of approximately 50,000 video gaming terminals. Currently, the program covers casinos, sports wagering, and the lottery, but excludes the distributed video gaming machines found in bars, restaurants, and gas stations across the state.

Under the new regulations, players would be required to undergo identity verification before purchasing vouchers to use the terminals. This process aims to ensure users are at least 21 years old and are not registered on the state’s self-exclusion list. To facilitate this, the rules would change how machines are accessed; terminals would no longer accept cash directly. Instead, patrons would purchase vouchers through separate redemption devices using cash or digital payments.

Additionally, the proposal introduces a framework for cashless wagering and player accounts, which would allow for rewards programs and the setting of personal responsible gaming limits. Administrator Marcus Fruchter described the move as a “critical step forward” in addressing a public health priority. The rules must now undergo regulatory review and public consultation by the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules before they can take effect.