The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has notified stakeholders that over 20,000 people have now registered for the centralized state casino self-exclusion program.
Under the program, patrons can request to be placed on the register which would see them banned from either physical casinos or retail sportsbooks in the Keystone State for a predetermined period of time.
Registrants can request to be banned for either one year, five years, or a lifetime, during which all physical gaming establishments must refuse to take bets from that individual. While a voluntary scheme, registrants must agree that if they enter a casino and have any gambling winnings confiscated, they could be subject to criminal proceedings.
“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,” said Elizabeth Lanza, Director of the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling.
“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.”
PGCB revealed that around one in five (21%) of those registered on the list have opted to take the lifetime ban. Those who have registered on the scheme are broken down by around 13k males and 7k females, whilst the age range of registrants goes from 21-102 years old.
The PA regulator also has several other self-exclusion lists aside from the casino scheme almost 4k people are on the igaming self-exclusion list; 1.5k people are on the VGT list, whilst 800 people are on the fantasy sports list.
