The Illinois Gaming Board on Wednesday approved a proposed rule that would add video gaming to the agency's voluntary Self-Exclusion Program for problem gamblers, a step the board says is the first of its kind at the scale of Illinois' video gaming market.
The rule would allow people who enroll in the program to exclude themselves from the state's network of roughly 50,000 video gaming terminals through identity verification at video gaming redemption terminals. It also creates a framework for video gaming player accounts, cashless wagering and responsible gaming limits.
"Integrating Illinois video gaming into the existing Self-Exclusion Program is a gaming integrity and public health priority for the IGB," said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. He said nothing like it has been implemented at the size and scale of the Illinois video gaming market, which he called the largest video gaming network of its kind in the world. Fruchter said the rule would bring video gaming's problem gambling protections in line with those already in place for Illinois casinos and sports wagering.
The board says the Self-Exclusion Program lets people with gambling disorders voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos, sports wagering and fantasy contests. In September, the IGB revised program rules to establish tiered enrollment durations, expand enrollment channels and create a voluntary 12-month Marketing Exclusion List for patrons leaving the program. The board also adopted a resolution affirming it is IGB policy to incorporate video gaming into the program.
The proposed rule's new cashless wagering provisions would allow terminal operators to choose to offer cashless play and player rewards through individual patron video gaming accounts. The accounts would be funded through approved payment methods and be subject to age and identity verification, privacy and security controls, and Know-Your-Customer and anti-money laundering requirements. Every account must allow patrons to set their own responsible gaming limits.
Other board actions
The IGB approved a proposed amendment revising rules for employees in non-gaming jobs at Illinois casinos. In 2025, the General Assembly amended the Illinois Gambling Act to eliminate licensing requirements for non-gaming positions and establish casino Non-Gaming Occupational Identification Badges under IGB oversight. The adopted amendments standardize and clarify terms and requirements and revise processes, application requirements and fees.
The board also accepted a Request for Initial Consideration for the renewal of a casino owners license from HC Aurora, LLC, doing business as Hollywood Casino Aurora. The casino will appear before the IGB at its Dec. 10, 2026 meeting for final consideration of its renewal request.
Both the video gaming self-exclusion rule and the non-gaming employee amendment will go to the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for approval before taking effect. The IGB is encouraging stakeholders and interested parties to submit public comments.
In other regulatory matters, the board issued casino approvals including two supplier license renewals, two Level 1 occupational licenses and 466 Level 2 occupational licenses, while denying two Level 2 occupational licenses. It issued video gaming approvals including four terminal operator licenses, 81 establishment licenses, 69 terminal handler licenses, two technicians, 39 sales agent and broker licenses, one manufacturer license renewal, one distributor license renewal and four terminal operator renewals, while denying one sales agent and broker license and six video gaming location establishment license applications. The board also issued 234 Level 2 sports wagering occupational licenses.
Illinois is home to 17 casinos, 14 active and approved sportsbooks and a network of nearly 9,000 licensed video gaming establishments, according to the board. The IGB's next meeting is set for Dec. 10, 2026.
Help for problem gambling
Anyone experiencing problems with gambling can contact the Illinois Gambling Helpline at AreYouReallyWinning.com, call 1-800-GAMBLER or text ILGAMB (833234). Suspected violations can be reported confidentially through the IGB's Prohibited Conduct Reporting Portal or by calling the IGB Hotline at (855) 494-0237.
Source: the original release