Proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion registries could soon make it easier for temporarily self-excluded players to regain access to the state’s casinos and gambling sites. Under the current system, the expiration of voluntary self-exclusion doesn’t automatically remove players from the list—it only means that they’re able to request removal. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has proposed removing that step.
Pennsylvania has four separate self-exclusion lists, allowing players to lock themselves out of:
- Retail casinos
- Online gambling
- Fantasy sports
- Video-gaming terminals (VGTs)
Each of these comes with one-year, five-year, and permanent options. Under the PGCB’s proposal, the one- and five-year options would result in automatic removal from the list once the chosen time elapses.
The PGCB has more than 30,000 people on the voluntary self-exclusion list. Some temporarily-excluded gamblers may not realize they’re still on the list, which can be a problem, as violating the terms of self-exclusion can have legal consequences. The proposed change aims to clear up that confusion moving forward.
PGCB expects amendments to be adopted
The Keystone State is a rich gambling market with numerous PA online casinos and PA online sportsbooks. The state also has 17 retail casinos, video game terminals (VGTs), poker and fantasy sports, to boot.
Because of the that, the PGCB has strong self-exclusion programs that cover each vertical. However, sometimes it can lead to confusion, which has led to a proposal of auto-removal of one- and five-year self-excluded individuals.
The PGCB documented the reasons for the change in the proposal:
“Requiring individuals to take affirmative removal action after their selected period has elapsed results in individuals experiencing negative effects. Many individuals erroneously believe that once the time period selected for casino self-exclusion has passed, they are once again allowed to engage in gaming activities in this Commonwealth’s retail casinos.
“This comes from either not reading the self-exclusion paperwork that they sign clearly enough, or simply forgetting after several years that they must request removal.
“However, with these individuals remaining on the self-exclusion list, they are subject to trespass charges if caught in a licensed facility, and the confiscation of funds if they win while gaming.”
Individuals who incorrectly believe they have been removed from the self-exclusion list must return all winnings, if caught. The document said:
“Movement to a unified automatic removal process will eliminate confusion, reduce potential trespass actions and eliminate many administrative proceedings within the board relating to requests for the return of confiscated funds.”
Potential timeline and highlights for self-exclusion proposal
PGCB Communications Director, Doug Harbach, told PlayPennsylvania that he expects the new amendment to be adopted. However, he did not provide a timeline, but it could take some time. Harbach provided a list of key events for the motion to pass:
- Public comment is open until Nov. 25
- PGCB will evaluate comments received as it contemplates creation of a Final Rulemaking; if so, would draft a Final Rulemaking, addressing public comments and making any changes from the Proposed Rulemaking stage
- PGCB Board considers approval of the Final Form Rulemaking at a public meeting
- Refers an adopted Final Rulemaking to the standing committees in the General Assembly for comment with the caveat that new committees must be formed next year since a new legislative session
- Goes back to IRRC (Independent Regulatory Review Commission) for their adoption and any comment
Harbach estimates that the PGCB is about one-third of the way through the process.
The new change would impact those who put themselves on the list after it goes into affect. Harbach noted:
“This would not be retroactive to those already on the casino self-exclusion list. Currently, the auto removals are in places for the three other lists: VGTs, iGaming and Fantasy Contests. So this would add consistency.”
In other words, those currently on a self-exclusion list must petition for removal, even when the time allotted is up. That is going to change moving forward, though.
