The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) announced that it has reached 20,000 self-excluded casino patrons within the Keystone State.
The option for customers to self-exclude themselves from gaming activities at PA casinos has been in place since 2006.
The PGCB has tools in place to help customers who have developed a gaming addiction or deal with problem gambling.
PGCB reports 20,000 enrolled in PA casino self-exclusion
The PGCB announced it received its 20,000th casino self-exclusion request on June 5. An individual who chooses a casino self-exclusion is removing themselves from entering and participating in gaming activities, including retail sports betting, at any Pennsylvania casino.
The self-excluded individual can ban themselves for one year, five years or a lifetime. Pennsylvania casinos must deny entry into the establishment, let alone any gaming privileges. The PGCB has made it clear that self-excluded individuals can be charged with criminal trespassing should they attempt to enter a Pennsylvania casino.
Elizabeth Lanza, Director of the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling (OCPG), made the following statement:
“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.”
Casino self-exclusion facts provided by the PGCB
Here are some other self-exclusion facts the PGCB provided:
- Of the 20,000 individuals in Pennsylvania, 4,335 (21%) have chosen the lifetime ban
- There are a total of 12,811 males and 7,189 females that have enrolled in the self-exclusion program
- Individuals on this list range between 21 and 102 years of age
- 1,026 self-excluded individuals chose to reenroll in the program after previously removing their name from the list, including 307 who selected a lifetime ban at reenrollment
The 20,000 who enrolled in the casino self-exclusion program may have performed in other gaming, such as online casinos, VGTs and fantasy sports. However, the PGCB has a separate list for those three categories.
Those figures are not included in the 20,000 enrolled in the casino self-exclusion program. Here are the number of self-excluded people participating in iGaming, VGTs and fantasy sports:
- iGaming: 3,778
- VGTs: 1,467
- Fantasy sports: 797
How to sign up for self-exclusion in Pennsylvania
The PGCB has four different self-exclusion programs patrons have access to:
- Casinos
- Interactive Gambling
- Video Gaming Terminals
- Fantasy Contests
For casino self-exclusion, a person may sign up by completing a request to the PGCB in person. Call (717) 346-8300 to schedule an appointment at the PGCB Harrisburg Office, one of the PGCB’s regional offices or a PGCB office in a licensed facility.
For the other three lists, a person can sign up for self-exclusion online on the PGCB website.
