Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board - Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling

Self-Exclusion Enrollment and Removal

 Frequently Asked Questions

Click on each link to learn more about the PGCB’s Self-Exclusion Programs. For general information on self-exclusion, please visit Self-Exclusion - Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (pa.gov).

The PA Gaming Control Board offers 4 programs:
  • Casino Self-Exclusion
  • iGaming Self-Exclusion
  • VGT Establishment Self-Exclusion
  • Fantasy Contest Self-Exclusion
The PA Lottery also offers a self-exclusion program for its online iLottery website.

Please visit the OCPG’s website, https://responsibleplay.pa.gov/, or call the 24-hour PA gambling addiction helpline by dialing 1-800-GAMBLER for information on self-exclusion, gambling disorder treatment options, and additional tools and resources. To chat with a helpline operator online, please visit the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA’s website- Helpline | Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA (pacouncil.com).

Although the PGCB has 4 separate self-exclusion lists, our licensees and operators may choose to ban individuals from other types of gambling and/or their gambling and non-gambling venues, including casinos, sports wagering at casinos and/or at freestanding sports wagering locations, VGT establishments, hotels, restaurants, and Fantasy and iGaming (including sports wagering) websites, both in Pennsylvania and in other jurisdictions, regardless of the type of self-exclusion in which an individual enrolls. A licensee may choose to ban individuals enrolled in the iGaming Self-Exclusion Program from entering their casinos and freestanding sports wagering locations, VGT establishments and other venues. Similarly, a licensee may choose to ban individuals enrolled in the Casino Self-Exclusion Program from wagering on their online gambling venues.

The PGCB does not determine the internal ban policies of its licensees. The PGCB does not maintain a list of prohibited gaming venues. To learn more about a licensee’s internal self-exclusion policies, please contact the licensee directly by phone or email, not in person.

Please click on the links below to learn about self-exclusion in other jurisdictions

Yes, please contact the OCPG to schedule a call with an employee who can assist you in submitting your request for self-exclusion enrollment or removal. To schedule, please email problemgambling@pa.gov or call 717-346-8300.

Although the PGCB has 4 separate self-exclusion lists, our licensees and operators may choose to ban individuals from other types of gambling and/or their gambling and non-gambling venues, including casinos, sports wagering at casinos and/or at freestanding sports wagering locations, VGT establishments, hotels, restaurants, and Fantasy and iGaming (including sports wagering) websites, both in Pennsylvania and in other jurisdictions, regardless of the type of self-exclusion in which an individual enrolls. A licensee may choose to ban individuals enrolled in the iGaming Self-Exclusion Program from entering their casinos and freestanding sports wagering locations, VGT establishments and other venues. Similarly, a licensee may choose to ban individuals enrolled in the Casino Self-Exclusion Program from wagering on their online gambling venues.

The PGCB does not determine the internal ban policies of its licensees. The PGCB does not maintain a list of prohibited gaming venues. To learn more about a licensee’s internal self-exclusion policies, please contact the licensee directly by phone or email, not in person.

iGaming, VGT, and Fantasy Contest self-exclusions simply expire at the conclusion of the ban period that was selected during the enrollment process, unless an extension has been submitted. Casino self-exclusions do not expire. Individuals must request removal from the program when their ban period has concluded. If an individual does not request removal from the Casino Self-Exclusion Program, they will remain on the Casino Self-Exclusion List indefinitely or until a request for removal is submitted and accepted by the Board.

In order to complete the process for removal from the Casino Self-Exclusion Program, you must be eligible for removal. If your ban period has not yet concluded, please follow the removal process upon the conclusion of your ban period. Individuals enrolled in lifetime self-exclusion are unable to request removal through the online removal process. All online removal requests for early removal or removal from a lifetime self-exclusion will be denied.

The self-exclusion removal process is for the Casino Self-Exclusion Program only. There is no removal process for the other 3 types of self-exclusion. iGaming, VGT, and Fantasy Contest self-exclusions simply expire at the conclusion of the ban period that was selected during the self-exclusion enrollment process, unless an extension has been submitted.

In order to complete the process for removal from the Casino Self-Exclusion Program, you must be eligible for removal. If your ban period has not yet concluded, please follow the removal process upon the conclusion of your ban period. Individuals enrolled in lifetime self-exclusion are unable to request removal through the online removal process. All online removal requests for early removal or removal from a lifetime self-exclusion will be denied.

You may extend the period of your self-exclusion ban at any time prior to the conclusion of your current ban period by visiting the enrollment website. Please note, the period of self-exclusion cannot be changed for lifetime bans.

Yes. Please follow this link to the enrollment instructions. General system functionality is reviewed in the instructions available here.

Yes. Please follow this link to the removal instructions.

It can take up to 7 business days for interactive gaming operators to update their player database and enable your account or “unflag” your personal information so you can register for an account. We kindly request that individuals wait at least 7 business days after their self-exclusion removal date before contacting PGCB regarding access to your account.

If you are still unable to access your account after 7 business days, you must attempt to resolve the issue directly with the website operator by phone, email, or online. If the operator has not addressed your issue within five business days, please file an interactive gaming complaint at the following web address: PGCB Patron Complaint Form and we will investigate your complaint. If you do not receive a complaint number, please use 12345. Please note that operators have the right to permanently deactivate patron accounts at their sole discretion.

For more information on the PGCB’s Self-Exclusion Programs, please visit ResponsiblePlay.pa.gov.

For information on a petition that you have submitted to the Board, please contact the Board Clerk by calling the Office of Hearings and Appeals at 717-265-7451 or by emailing Boardclerk@pa.gov.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has partnered with a third-party vendor called Lexis Nexis to verify a patron’s identity during registration and login. Information collected during these transactions is sent to Lexis Nexis and evaluated for potential risk. The patron’s device information and IP address are also included to ensure the patron’s behavior is consistent with previous behavior in the Self-Exclusion Enrollment application as well as other platforms that utilize Lexis Nexis. Registrations are reviewed by OCPG staff if a moderate or higher level of risk is assessed from Lexis Nexis. In these cases, patrons are required to reach out to OCPG staff to confirm their identities before proceeding with self-exclusion enrollment or removal. Login attempts that are assessed as high risk are rejected outright to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to a patron’s account. Login attempts that are assessed at the moderate risk level are further screened by a series of knowledge-based questions generated from various financial records to which only the patron should have access.