Illinois gambling regulators have proposed a new marketing exclusion list that would let people leaving the state’s self-exclusion programme opt out of gambling advertising for at least 12 months. The Illinois Gaming Board described it as a first-of-its-kind move in the U.S., and said the move would modernise the SEP.
Under the marketing proposal, people coming off self-exclusion could still gamble online or in casinos, and could still use promotions, but they would not receive direct marketing materials during the exclusion period. The board said it has seen similar marketing-exclusion programmes in Australia and the United Kingdom, and told LegalSportsReport that exposure to gambling advertising and commercial solicitation is associated with elevated gambling harm, especially for people already at higher risk.
CBS Chicago also reported that the board voted to move forward with shorter self-exclusion terms. It reported that the board would add six-month, one-year and three-year options, with automatic re-enrolment unless a person opts out, while people on the five-year or indefinite tiers would still need an affidavit or a letter from a certified gambling addiction counsellor confirming they were no longer problem gamblers. The current programme has been largely an all-or-nothing system, although a lifetime self-exclusion option remains available.
Marcus D. Fruchter, the board’s administrator, said the changes were meant to keep the programme aligned with the rest of Illinois gaming. “Modernization and expansion of the SEP must keep pace with the evolution of Illinois gaming in a thoughtful and intentional manner,” he said. He also said the board was committed to expanding coverage and supporting people in treatment and recovery without barriers and stigma.
The board’s own self-exclusion page says the programme began in 2002, when it applied to casinos, and was expanded in 2019 after the Sports Wagering Act required coverage of sports wagering. It also says people must currently enrol in person at sanctioned sites, the process takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and no fee is charged. The board said it is working on new sign-up channels and hopes to have an online portal once the rules are approved.
The changes come as legalized gambling has grown significantly in Illinois and across the country. CBS Chicago reported that nearly 16,000 people are on the self-exclusion list, and that gamblers in Illinois lost more than $2.5 billion in 2002, compared with $7.8 billion last year at casinos, on slot machines, in the lottery and on sports betting. The board also adopted a resolution to bring video lottery terminals into the exclusion programme using identity card readers on redemption terminals and ticket-in-ticket-out technology, and it adopted rules covering fantasy contests with a 21-plus minimum age. The next step is First Notice Filing with the Illinois secretary of state’s office, after which the proposals go to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for public review before they can take effect.
