Gaming Commission: Indiana Self-Exclusion Program a Success

The first seven months of a new statewide self-exclusion program in Indiana have been a success, according to an initial assessment of the program by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC). Since the program began in July 2004, approximately 465 casino patrons have self-excluded, nearly one-third the total number that joined the previous version of the program, which had been in effect for nine years.   

The assessment found that about half the new applicants were men, while more than 60 percent resided in states other than Indiana. Also, one of Indiana’s nine casinos (Caesars Indiana) accounted for 88 of the new applicants, according to the IGC.

Under the new program, any person may request self-exclusion from Indiana casinos by applying in person at one of the IGC offices, which are on the premises of each Indiana casino. When applying, the gambler must provide certain identifying information, such as a complete physical description and photograph, and must decide whether the exclusion period will last for one year, five years or for life. Thereafter, the applicant can increase, but cannot decrease, the exclusion period. The person’s name remains on the IGC-maintained self-exclusion list until a formal request is made to remove it, even if the exclusion period has expired.

The IGC reports that 45 percent of patrons who signed up for the new program chose the lifetime ban, while 34 percent elected for the one-year ban and 21 percent chose the five-year ban. 

When the ban begins, the self-exclusion applicant agrees to forfeit to the IGC any gambling winnings, players club points or complimentary benefits earned during unauthorized visits to a gaming facility during the exclusion period. However, the regulations do not specifically address whether casinos must return any funds won from excluded persons during those unauthorized visits. 

The new regulations also require that casinos establish internal control procedures and systems to ensure that self-excluded persons are, in fact, excluded. According to the IGC, the plan should include processes for:

• distributing the voluntary self-exclusion list to appropriate personnel;
• immediate notification to IGC agents as well as to casino security and surveillance personnel that an excluded person in on the casinos’ premises;
• reasonable attempts to ensure that excluded persons do not receive marketing materials - this requirement is deemed satisfied if an excluded person receives no such materials beyond 45 days after the casino receives notice of the self-exclusion; and
• ensuring that voluntarily excluded persons do not receive check cashing privileges or extensions of credit.

According to the IGC, casinos have successfully implemented the new procedures, and several self-excluded patrons have been caught attempting to re-enter casino premises. In one instance, a patron was caught at the Blue Chip Casino when a cashier asked him to provide identification in order to cash a $1,500 jackpot.