Illinois Proposes Self-Exclusion For Video Gambling

The Illinois Gaming Board has proposed rules that would bring the state's video gambling terminals into its voluntary self-exclusion program for the first time. The board unanimously approved the proposal on Thursday, October 22, 2026, according to Capitol News Illinois.

Today, players who ban themselves can stay out of casinos, online sportsbooks and the lottery, but not the network of roughly 50,000 video gambling machines found in gas stations, bars and other venues. The proposal closes that gap by changing how people pay to play.

Machines would no longer take cash directly. Players would buy vouchers from a redemption terminal, using cash or digital payments through a video gaming account, and either route would require identity verification. The check would confirm the player is at least 21 and is not on the self-exclusion list.

Accounts would be voluntary, and cash purchases would remain possible after verification. Operators that offer accounts would have to provide responsible gambling limit tools, stop self-excluded people from opening accounts and avoid sending them promotions. They could run rewards programs for players who are not excluded, and the rules also create new options for cashless wagering.

Why It's A Priority

The board has described closing the video gambling gap as a public health priority. In September it passed a resolution committing to the goal, alongside proposals for shorter self-exclusion terms and new sign-up channels, as NPR Illinois reported at the time. Nearly 16,000 people had signed up to the list by then.

Administrator Marcus Fruchter said the move is about bringing video gambling in line with the rest of the industry, where cashless wagering and player accounts are standard. 

He added that digital payments give more room for customer controls and money-laundering prevention. A side effect could be fewer cash burglaries at venues, a problem that has led to arrests over a string of video gambling machine break-ins.

The Cashless Trade-Off

Cashless play cuts friction, which can cut both ways. Capitol News Illinois cited a six-month case study by machine maker Acres Manufacturing, which found cashless players bought 92% more gambling credits per session than cash players. Fruchter said the board wants to discuss that issue during public comment.

The scale is large. The machines brought in more than $1 billion in state and local tax revenue last fiscal year, with players losing more than $3.3 billion, making video gambling the state's highest-grossing form of wagering.

Timeline And Technology

The proposed rules now go to the General Assembly's rulemaking committee, a process that usually takes six months to a year and includes public comment. The harder hurdle is technical: upgrading the machines to connect with the state's list while protecting data privacy. 

The board has contracted LNW Gaming for that work, and NPR Illinois reported a $162 million, 10-year contract with a December 31, 2027 completion deadline. Fruchter said he is confident the capability will be ready to deploy next year.

For players, the practical change would come only after rulemaking and the hardware upgrade. Illinois residents who want to self-exclude from other products can already do so, and anyone looking at online casino options should check what protections each state offers.