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UKIllinois Moves to Expand Gambling Self-Exclusion Rules to Video Gaming Machines
Key Highlights
- Players would no longer put cash directly into video gambling machines under the proposal and would instead buy vouchers after an identity check.
- Optional video gaming accounts could support digital payments, responsible gambling limits, and rewards, while blocking self-excluded players and promotions.
- Illinois’ video terminal network is the largest in the world, generated more than $1 billion in state and local taxes last fiscal year, and businesses with cash-filled machines have seen a rise in burglaries.
Responsible gambling measures are gaining momentum as states weigh the economic benefits and potential harms of online gambling. Illinois regulators are taking another step by approving new self-exclusion rules for video gambling machines.
Illinois Regulators Push for Expanded Gambling Protections
On October 22, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) unanimously approved proposed rules that addresses a gap in protections for people who have chosen to stop gambling. Illinois has a robust voluntary self-exclusion program that covers casinos, online sportsbooks, and lottery gambling, but excludes video gambling terminals found in bars, gas stations, hotels, and other licensed businesses. With searches for gambling addiction rising year over year, the IGB’s new rules could block self-excluded individuals from accessing roughly 50,000 video gambling machines across Illinois.
Illinois has the largest selection of video gambling terminals in the country, so bringing those machines into the program presents a massive challenge for regulators. The IGB previously identified the issue as a “public health priority” in September, and the October vote moved the proposal into the review process rather than introducing immediate changes.
“We are decidedly on the right path and will continue driving forward, but we will do so in a focused, collaborative, intentional, and efficient manner as we advance this critical initiative,” added Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter, who also called the proposal “another critical step” in addressing problem gambling.
New ID Verification & Cashless Gambling Rules
Under the proposed rules, video gambling machines would no longer accept cash directly, requiring players to purchase vouchers through separate payout devices. These devices would accept cash or digital payments, but customers would first need to verify their identity before completing a purchase. The verification process would confirm that players are at least 21 years old and aren’t registered with the state’s self-exclusion program, preventing excluded individuals from accessing gambling funds through the new system.
Players could also create video gambling accounts for digital payments, although registration wouldn’t be mandatory. Operators offering these accounts would need to provide tools for setting gambling limits, prevent excluded players from registering, and stop sending promotional messages to anyone on the exclusion list. Rewards programs could also be available to eligible customers, while regulators believe digital payments could support player protections and measures against money laundering.
Cashless Gambling Concerns & Implementation Timeline
The proposed changes have raised questions about whether cashless gambling could encourage higher spending. A six-month study by gambling technology company Acres Manufacturing found that cashless players purchased 92% more gambling credits per session than customers paying with cash. That concern carries financial significance for gambling in Illinois, where video gambling terminals generated more than $1 billion in state and local tax revenue during the last fiscal year. Players lost over $3.3 billion on the machines during the same time period.
Before the proposed rules can take effect, they must go through a review involving the General Assembly’s rulemaking committee, a process that could take six months to a year. Public comments will also be considered during that period, giving interested parties an opportunity to respond to the planned changes.
Meanwhile, regulators must address the technical challenges of connecting thousands of machines to the exclusion database while protecting personal information. The IGB has partnered with LNW Gaming to complete the necessary upgrades, and Fruchter expects the technology to be ready for deployment in 2027. That timeline means the expanded protections would depend on both regulatory approval and the completion of the required system improvements.
