The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has proposed new rules that would bring more than 50,000 video gaming terminals (VGTs) into the state’s self-exclusion program.
Currently, problem gamblers can ban themselves from casinos, sportsbooks and fantasy sports contests. The program will allow people to enroll in the program through identity verification at VGT redemption terminals.
The proposed rule also creates a framework for video gaming player accounts, cashless wagering, and responsible gambling limits.
“Integrating Illinois video gaming into the existing self-exclusion program is a gaming integrity and public health priority for the IGB,” said Marcus Fruchter, IGB administrator.
Fruchter said nothing like this has been implemented at the size and scale of the Illinois video gaming market, which is the largest video gaming network of its kind in the world.
There are 8,800 licensed locations with 50,141 VGTs statewide, with the total amount wagered of more than $2.9 billion in September, according to numbers released by the IGB.
“The proposed rule will bring video gaming’s problem gambling protections in line with those already in place for Illinois casinos and sports wagering and set clear guardrails as the video gaming industry moves toward digital payments,” Fruchter said Thursday after the IGB approved the proposed rule.
According to the IGB, the proposed rule is part of an ongoing process discussed at last month’s meeting to modernize and further strengthen the state’s self-exclusion program.
In September, the four-member IGB made two decisions to enhance its existing self-exclusion program. First, self-exclusion program rules were revised to establish tiered enrollment periods and establish a 12-month marketing exclusion list for patrons existing the program.
Second, the IGB adopted a resolution affirming that it is the public policy of the IGB to incorporate video gaming into the SEP and directing IGB staff to take all necessary steps to do so, including the submission of proposed rulemaking, which the IGB approved on Thursday.
Additionally, the proposed rule’s new cashless wagering provisions would allow terminal operators to elect to offer cashless play and player rewards through individual patron video gaming accounts.
The accounts would be funded through approved payment methods and be subject to age and identity verifications, privacy and security controls, and Know-Your- Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.
“Every video gaming player account must also allow patrons to set their own responsible gaming limits,” according to the IGB.
Following their adoption by the IGB, the proposed rulemaking will go to the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for the approval process before taking effect.
