The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) announced that it has reached a new milestone with 20,000 voluntary requests for enrollment in its Casino Self-Exclusion Program. The scheme allows individuals to exclude themselves from entering and participating in gaming activities at all Commonwealth casinos and retail sports wagering locations. Established in 2006, the program offers one-year, five-year, or lifetime exclusions.
According to the PGCB’s website, while on the self-exclusion list, individuals are prohibited from placing wagers, receiving gaming privileges, accessing check cashing services, enjoying player club membership benefits, or participating in junkets and other similar privileges. Furthermore, entering a Pennsylvania casino while on the list can result in criminal trespass charges and confiscation of any gambling winnings.
Elizabeth Lanza, Director of the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling (OCPG), emphasized the effectiveness of the self-exclusion programs in helping individuals regain control over their lives. “The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board encourages anyone who thinks they may have a gambling problem to seek treatment and consider taking advantage of the voluntary Self-Exclusion Programs,” Lanza said.
The PGCB also provided additional data on the program’s participants. Among the 20,000 individuals enrolled, 21% (4,335) have chosen a lifetime ban. The program has seen 12,811 male and 7,189 female enrollees, spanning a wide age range from 21 to 102 years.
Additionally, 1,026 individuals have reenrolled in the program after previously removing their names from the list, with 307 opting for a lifetime ban upon re-enrollment.
Lanza highlighted that many participants in the Casino Self-Exclusion Program engage not only in traditional casino gambling but also in other regulated gaming activities, such as online casino games, sports wagering, video gaming terminals (VGTs) at truck stops, and fantasy sports.
To cater to individuals wishing to self-exclude from other types of legalized gaming, the PGCB offers additional Self-Exclusion Programs. These include programs for iGaming, with 3,778 enrollees; VGTs with 1,467 enrollees; and fantasy sports with 797 enrollees.
Enrollment in any of the self-exclusion programs can be completed online through the Responsible Play website. The site also provides information on self-help tools, gambling disorder resources. The Pennsylvania Lottery also has its own scheme, the iLottery Self-Exclusion Program.