Illinois Self Exclusion List: What You Need to Know Before You Enroll

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What is the Illinois Self-Exclusion List?

The Illinois Self Exclusion List is a voluntary program. It is run by the Illinois Gaming Board. It bans people from casinos and sports wagering in the state. You sign up on purpose. Once you are on it, the state’s casinos and sportsbooks must turn you away. The point is simple: it puts a legal wall between you and the bet you can’t stop making. Your name and enrollment stay confidential. No fees are charged to enroll. This is not a punishment. It is not a public record. It is a tool you choose. The Illinois Gaming Board’s self-exclusion program exists because some people need more than willpower to step away. If you are wondering whether it is right for you, the rest of this guide walks through who can enroll, how to sign up, how long it lasts, and what happens if you walk into a casino anyway.

Who can enroll in the Illinois Self-Exclusion Program?

Only you can put yourself on the Illinois Self-Exclusion List. Enrollment is voluntary and personal, so no one else can do it for you. That means a spouse, partner, parent, or friend cannot sign you up, no matter how worried they are. The program is built for people who admit they have a gambling problem and want a legal barrier between themselves and betting. If you are wishing to self-exclude on someone else’s behalf, the Illinois Gaming Board will not accept it. The choice has to come from the person who has the gambling issue.

How do I enroll in the Illinois Self-Exclusion Program?

You enroll in person at a designated Illinois Gaming Board self-exclusion enrollment site. The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes. There is no online enrollment and no mail-in option. You must appear in person. You must show valid ID. You must complete the paperwork on site. There are no fees to enroll.

You can schedule an appointment in advance. This is a good idea if you want to avoid a wait or a second trip. Appointments are not always required, though. Many sites often accept walk-ins. To set one up, use the online inquiry submission form at www.areyoureallywinning.com. Once you submit the form, select the self-exclusion program from the first drop-down menu. Choose the right category. Or call the self-exclusion program director directly using the Illinois area code listed on the site.

What do I need to bring to enroll?

Bring a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card. You will also sign an affidavit. This confirms you are enrolling voluntarily and that you understand the terms. Plan for the visit to take under an hour. Consider taking time from work so you are not rushed.

The IGB Self-Exclusion Program is the Illinois Gaming Board’s voluntary program that bans you from all Illinois casinos and sports wagering. To enroll, you must appear in person at a designated enrollment site, show valid ID, and complete the paperwork. There is no online or mail-in option. The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes and is free.

Where can I enroll in the Illinois Self-Exclusion Program?

You can enroll at Illinois Gaming Board offices inside casinos, at certified gambling addiction treatment centers, and at a few out-of-state sites in Iowa.

Illinois Gaming Board offices at casinos

About half of the enrollment sites are casinos. That can be a trigger for someone whose gambling problem started there. If that sounds like you, ask a trusted friend or family member to come along. Wait outside or in the car while they check you in, or call ahead and ask staff to meet you at a side entrance. The visit itself takes only a few minutes.

Treatment centers and other locations

Treatment centers are the calmer choice. Staff there are trained in problem gambling, so the setting feels more like a doctor’s office than a gaming floor. You can find the full list of sites at www.areyoureallywinning.com. The same page has the online inquiry form and the phone number for the self-exclusion program director. If a site near you is a casino and you would rather not go inside, call first and ask what other options exist in your area.

How long does the Illinois Self-Exclusion List last?

The minimum term on the Illinois Self-Exclusion List is five years for casino gambling and sports wagering. That five-year clock starts the day you enroll, and it applies to every casino and sportsbook in the state. There is no 30-day or one-year option right now. Once you sign up, you are on the list for at least five years.

Current minimum term: 5 years

Five years is the shortest term available today. When that period ends, you are not removed automatically. You must send a written request to the Illinois Gaming Board. That request has to include a letter from a certified gambling addiction counselor or a psychiatrist. The letter states that you no longer have a gambling problem. Only then can the Board take you off the list.

Proposed shorter exclusion options

The Illinois Gaming Board has proposed rule changes that would add shorter terms: 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years. These options are not available yet. Until the new rules take effect, five years remains the only choice. If you want a shorter term, ask about the current status when you enroll.

What happens if I gamble while on the Illinois Self-Exclusion List?

If you gamble while on the Illinois Self-Exclusion List, you can be arrested for trespass. Casinos and sportsbooks are private property. Once you are on the list, you give up your right to be there. If security finds you, they can have you removed and charged. You also lose any money you win. The casino takes your winnings. State law sends that money to groups that treat problem gambling.

Casinos may also pay bounties to employees who catch self-excluded people. So floor staff and security have a reason to watch for you. That makes it hard to stay unnoticed. Your name and photo are in the Illinois Gaming Board’s self-exclusion database. Casinos check this database. If you try to collect a jackpot, staff will check your ID against that database before paying. Trying to gamble while excluded also puts your treatment at risk. If you feel an urge to return, call the Illinois self-exclusion program office or a gambling helpline before you walk in.

What does the Illinois Self-Exclusion List cover?

The Illinois Self-Exclusion List covers all Illinois casinos. It also covers all sports wagering in the state. It does not cover video gambling or the lottery. If you enroll, you are banned from every licensed casino in Illinois. You are also banned from placing sports bets here. That includes retail sportsbooks. It also includes online sports wagering apps that operate under the Sports Wagering Act.

Illinois casinos and sports wagering

Your name also goes into a shared national database. That means casinos owned by Caesars, Boyd, Penn National, and MGM can bar you at their properties across the country. This is not just in Illinois. So one enrollment can follow you to Las Vegas. It can follow you anywhere else those companies run casinos.

What is not covered: video gambling and lottery

Video gambling terminals in bars, restaurants, and truck stops are not part of the program. Illinois Lottery tickets and lottery games are not part of it either. If those are your main triggers, self-exclusion will not block them. You would need to avoid those spots on your own. You could also ask about other limits.

Is the Illinois Self-Exclusion List confidential?

Yes. Your self-exclusion record is strictly confidential under Illinois law. The Illinois Gaming Board does not post names publicly, and casinos cannot share your status with the general public. Your enrollment stays private.

That said, the Illinois Gaming Board does share your name with casinos and sports wagering operators. It has to. That is how the ban gets enforced. Staff at each property need your information to spot you and stop you from gambling.

This is a common worry for people who enroll. Your employer, your family, and your bank will not be told. The data is used for one purpose: keeping you out.

What are my responsibilities after self-excluding?

Once you are on the list, your main job is to stay out of Illinois casinos and sports wagering locations. That means no betting at casino sportsbooks and no casino apps. If you move, you must tell the self-exclusion program director your new address in writing. You also need to report any marketing materials you still get.

Casinos should stop sending you mailers, but it can take weeks for your name to clear their systems. Save anything that arrives and send it to the program director. This helps the Illinois Gaming Board enforce your ban and shows you are holding up your end.

How can I check the status of my self-exclusion?

You can check your status by looking at the copies of your enrollment documents, or by asking the Self-Exclusion Program Director for new copies if you lost them. The Illinois Gaming Board gives you paperwork when you enroll. That paperwork is your proof of status.

The list itself is not public. No website, casino hotline, or third party can look you up and confirm whether you are on it. Only you and the people who run the program can verify your status. If someone claims they can check for you, they cannot.

You cannot check your status at the casino. The list is not public, and casino staff will not confirm your status to you. Your proof of enrollment is the paperwork the Illinois Gaming Board gives you when you sign up. If you lost it, contact the Self-Exclusion Program Director for a copy.

Why can’t I bet on Illinois in Illinois?

Can’t place a bet on Illinois sports in Illinois? You are almost certainly on the Illinois Self-Exclusion List. That list bans you from all Illinois sports wagering. The ban follows you to every casino and sportsbook in the state. So no Illinois operator can take your action, in person or online.

Online sportsbooks can add their own limits on top of that. Some block self-excluded players nationwide through shared databases. A few may still let you open an account. Do not test it. Betting while excluded can get you arrested for trespass. It can also cost you your winnings.

Does Illinois allow online gambling?

Illinois online gambling laws allow only two things: sports betting and fantasy sports. Online casino games like slots, blackjack, and roulette are not legal in Illinois. So if you self-exclude, the ban covers every legal online option you have in the state.

That means your self-exclusion applies to online sportsbooks and fantasy sports apps. It does not apply only to brick-and-mortar casinos. If you try to bet through an Illinois sportsbook while excluded, you face the same trespass arrest and lost winnings as an in-person violation.

How does self-exclusion work for online gambling in Illinois?

Self-exclusion in Illinois works the same way online as it does in person. You enroll through the Illinois Gaming Board. After that, every legal online sportsbook and fantasy sports platform in the state must block your account. You do not sign up with each app on its own. One enrollment covers them all.

That includes daily fantasy platforms like Dabble and Underdog Fantasy. They fall under the same rules as sportsbooks. There is no online-only signup. There is no shortcut around the in-person requirement. You still enroll through the IGB’s self-exclusion program. The ban then applies to every licensed operator.

What is the list of legal gambling in Illinois?

Illinois allows five main types of legal gambling. They are casinos, sports wagering, video gambling, the Illinois Lottery, and fantasy sports. The Illinois Self-Exclusion List covers only two of them. Those two are casinos and sports wagering. Video gambling, the lottery, and fantasy sports contests are not part of the ban.

That gap matters. If you self-exclude, you can still buy a lottery ticket. You can also play a video gaming terminal at a bar. The program targets the games tied to the Illinois Gaming Board’s licensing. So know which games you are actually blocking before you enroll.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Illinois Self-Exclusion List is a voluntary program. It is run by the Illinois Gaming Board. It bans people from casinos and sports wagering in the state. Here are answers to the questions people ask most before they enroll.

Only you can enroll. It is your choice. You cannot sign up a spouse, a friend, or anyone else. The program is for people who admit they have a gambling problem. They want a legal barrier between themselves and the games. You enroll in person at an IGB self-exclusion site. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes. It costs nothing. You must show a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card. There are no fees to enroll.

The minimum term is currently five years for casino and sports wagering. Shorter options of six months, one year, or three years have been proposed. They are not yet available. To get removed after five years, you must submit an affidavit or letter from a certified gambling addiction counselor or psychiatrist. Entering a casino while on the list can lead to arrest for trespass. Any winnings are confiscated and donated to problem gambling organizations. There is no way to check your status online. The list is not public. You can request a copy of your enrollment documents from the Self-Exclusion Program Director.

Self-exclusion covers all Illinois casinos and sports wagering. This includes online sportsbooks and fantasy platforms like Dabble and Underdog Fantasy. It does not cover video gambling or the Illinois Lottery. If you have a gambling problem, call the Illinois helpline or visit www.areyoureallywinning.com to learn more.

Resources and support for problem gambling in Illinois

If you need help with a gambling problem in Illinois, call 1-800-GAMBLER. You can also text ILGAMB to 53342. Or visit AreYouReallyWinning.com. These services are free and confidential. They are run by the Illinois Gaming Board and the state’s problem gambling program. The helpline is open 24 hours a day. You can reach someone any time. Text support works the same way. Send ILGAMB to 53342 and a trained counselor will respond.

Counseling is also available across the state. The Illinois Department of Human Services funds certified gambling addiction treatment. It often costs you nothing. Support groups like Gamblers Anonymous Illinois and Gam-Anon meet in person and online. Gamblers Anonymous is for the person who gambles. Gam-Anon is for family and friends. You can find meeting times at www.gamblersanonymous.org or by calling the helpline.