Illinois regulators have advanced proposed rules that would extend the state's voluntary self-exclusion program to its network of roughly 50,000 video gaming terminals. The change is designed to close a gap that leaves machines in bars, restaurants and other licensed venues outside safeguards already used for casinos and sports wagering.
The Illinois Gaming Board unanimously approved the proposal, according to the regulator's official announcement. Players would need to verify their identity before buying a wagering voucher so the system can confirm that they are at least 21 and are not enrolled in self-exclusion.
Cash would not go directly into a terminal under the proposed model. A player could still use cash to buy a voucher at a redemption device after verification, while an optional video gaming account could support digital payments. Operators offering accounts would also have to provide responsible-gambling controls and prevent excluded players from opening accounts or receiving promotions, Capitol News Illinois reported.
The rules are not yet in force. They will proceed through Illinois' rulemaking review and public-comment process, which the state news service said commonly takes between six months and a year. The Gaming Board expects the supporting terminal technology to be ready for deployment next year.
