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- Illinois proposed a rule banning operators from targeting former self-excluded gamblers with marketing for 12 months.
- The proposed rule changes would also expand the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program to include video gaming terminals.
The Illinois Gaming Board has proposed rule changes that would bar gambling operators from targeting former self-excluded players with marketing for 12 months after their exclusion period ends.
The proposal would create a new Marketing Exclusion List and expand Illinois’ voluntary Self-Exclusion Program to cover video gaming terminals, a major part of the state’s gambling market. The measures have been sent to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to begin the public rulemaking process and are expected to be adopted next year.
Proposed rules would extend protections after self-exclusion ends
Under the proposal, the marketing restriction would apply by default for one year after a person’s self-exclusion term expires. The restriction would apply to targeted marketing, but it would not prevent former self-excluded gamblers from taking part in public promotions offered by licensed gaming operators.
The Illinois Gaming Board said the changes are meant to modernize the program as gambling options have expanded across the state.
“Modernization and expansion of the SEP must keep pace with the evolution of Illinois gaming in a thoughtful and intentional manner,” IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter said.
Fruchter added that the board wants the program to “best support people in their treatment and recovery journeys without barriers and stigma.”
Illinois adds VGTs to broader responsible gambling push
The proposed changes would also bring video gaming terminals, or VGTs, into the self-exclusion framework. That is significant in Illinois, where the terminals have a large footprint outside traditional casinos.
As of July, Illinois had 8,726 licensed VGT establishments. Players had lost almost $2 billion on VGTs through July, according to the figures cited by the source.
The broader market context is also substantial. Through August, gamblers had lost more than $1.44 billion at Illinois’ 17 casinos, while sports bettors had lost over $1 billion through June.
The announcement came during the American Gaming Association’s annual Responsible Gaming Education Month. In a statement cited by the source, the AGA said, “A thriving gaming industry is built on a foundation of responsibility. Our industry’s success depends on responsible, educated players.”
What happens next
The proposals now move through Illinois’ public rulemaking process after being forwarded to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
The source did not give a more specific adoption date than next year, and it did not say whether the proposal could be amended during rulemaking. It also did not identify operator-specific changes beyond saying the restrictions would apply to licensed gaming operators.
If adopted as proposed, the changes would tighten marketing limits around former self-excluded gamblers and extend Illinois’ responsible gambling framework to a wider range of gaming activity, including VGTs.
Source: As reported by casino.org.
