Illinois Gaming Board proposes self-exclusion rules for nearly 50,000 gaming machines

New rules have been pitched by the Illinois Gaming Board, which wants gaming machines to be off limits to gamblers who have self-excluded. The board put the proposal forward on Thursday, and it targets the state's network of nearly 50,000 such machines.

Under the proposal, the machines would no longer accept cash. Players would instead buy vouchers from a dedicated device, paying by cash or digital payment, and their identity would be checked at that point to confirm they are at least 21 and are not on the exclusion list. Players could also use a video gaming account, which would be voluntary provided their identity has been confirmed.

Operators would also have to give people who open video gaming accounts the means to set responsible-gambling limits, including self-exclusion, and would have to ensure that players already on the self-exclusion list cannot open an account.

Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter said during the board's meeting last week that adding video gaming terminals to the state's self-exclusion list was another step towards protecting players 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 said. The board has described the measure as a public health priority.

Self-exclusion does not currently apply to the state's video gaming terminals, which the source describes as the largest such network in the world. Earlier attempts to extend the requirements were affected by technological constraints, and the source states that the technology needed to upgrade the state's tens of thousands of machines to comply with the new rules is now available.