The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) announced it has launched a new user-friendly system that enables individuals to self-exclude themselves online from gambling activities.
While Pennsylvania is one of the most mature markets in the country, with both online casinos and sports betting legal since 2018, responsible gambling measures remain a top priority for the PGCB.
PGCB launches upgraded online system for self-exclusion
Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion program began in 2006 to help protect the well-being of players who developed a gambling addiction. As online casinos and sports betting launched in the Keystone State in 2018, self-exclusion options have since expanded. Pennsylvanians can put themselves on one or multiple of the following exclusion lists:
- Casinos
- Interactive Gambling
- Video Gaming Terminals
- Fantasy Contests
Casino self-exclusion enrollments were only in-person before the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, because of the outbreak and the emergence of online gambling, the PGCB made self-exclusion quickly accessible online.
Now, the PGCB made signing up for self-exclusion even more accessible and user-friendly, offering all of the following enhancements online:
- Enroll in one, several, or all self-exclusion programs
- Request removal from the casino self-exclusion program
- Extend the period of the self-exclusion ban period
- View self-exclusion documents and status in real-time
- Update personal information (i.e. name change/address change)
- Access links to gambling disorder information and the helpline
To enroll in one or multiple self-exclusion lists, individuals must upload a “selfie,” photo ID and must receive LexisNexis verification to complete the process.
Pennsylvania recently hit 20,000 self-exclusions
The number of enrolled individuals on the PGCB self-exclusion lists have been piling up. The PGCB reached 20,000 self-exclusion requests last month.
Elizabeth Lanza, Director of the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling (OCPG), said:
“The Casino Self-Exclusion Program, along with the agency’s three other self-exclusion programs, are effective and proven tools that allow for individuals to regain control over their lives, and to learn about other recovery resources. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board encourages anyone who thinks they may have a gambling problem to seek treatment and consider taking advantage of the voluntary Self-Exclusion Programs.”
Lanza has been tasked with making sure casinos and online operators have approved compulsive and problem gambling plans in place to help protect their customers:
- The training of casino and online operator employees on the signs and symptoms of gambling disorder and responsible gaming programs
- Policies and procedures on identifying those with potential harmful behavior and the identification and removal of underage, self-excluded and excluded individuals who have engaged in gaming activities
- Responsible advertising policies
- The casino and online operator’s participation in outreach programs
With several more online casinos expected to launch in the near future, the PGCB and operators must invest more in responsible gambling tools to protect the well-being of their customers and the industry.
Something as simple as making enrollment into a program more user-friendly could make a difference in someone’s life.
