The Illinois Gaming Board has approved proposed rules that would extend voluntary self-exclusion to the state's video gaming terminals, a segment outside the program that currently covers casinos and sports wagering.
Under the proposal, terminals would stop accepting cash directly. Players would instead purchase play vouchers at redemption devices, where identity checks would confirm that they are at least 21 and do not appear on the self-exclusion list.
Cash could still be used to buy vouchers, while digital payment through a video gaming account would be optional.
The change would apply across a network of about 50,000 terminals at roughly 9,000 licensed locations. It would shift the identity check to the voucher purchase point. The Board voted unanimously to advance the rules at its October 22 meeting, according to Capitol News Illinois.
Terminal operators choosing to offer player accounts would have to provide spending controls, prevent self-excluded people from opening accounts and stop sending them promotional materials.
The proposal would also allow rewards programs for eligible players. These requirements place consumer protections alongside a potential expansion in cashless wagering.
The Board has also acknowledged a risk that easier digital funding could affect player spending, an issue it intends to examine during public comment. Its existing self-exclusion program began in 2002 for casinos and expanded to sports wagering after the 2019 law. Enrollment currently requires an in-person visit to an approved site.
The technology needed to connect terminals with the exclusion list is being developed through the state's central communications system contract.
Light & Wonder secured a 10-year agreement in April to deploy and operate the upgraded Connexus platform. Its stated scope includes ticket-in, ticket-out capability, cashless support and integration of the exclusion program.
The new rules would not take effect immediately. They must pass through Illinois's rulemaking process, which includes review by the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and an opportunity for public comment.
The Board expects the relevant network upgrade to be ready in 2027, although technical readiness and approval of the rules are separate steps.
A September package covered by Global Gaming Insider proposed shorter exclusion periods and broader enrollment routes for Illinois's wider program.
Video gaming machines generated more than $1bn in state and local tax revenue last fiscal year, while players lost more than $3.3bn
