The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has decided to maintain its current casino self-exclusion reenrollment process, rejecting a proposed change that would have automatically restored casino access after ban expiration.

Currently, individuals can self-exclude from Pennsylvania casinos for one year, five years, or life. Those choosing one- or five-year bans must actively apply for reinstatement once their term ends, unlike the state's other gambling self-exclusion programs for iGaming, video gaming terminals (VGTs), and fantasy sports, which automatically restore access.

The PGCB initially proposed changing the policy to reduce administrative paperwork and prevent accidental trespassing by individuals who mistakenly believe their access has been automatically restored. However, after receiving overwhelming public opposition, the board decided to maintain the current system.

Gambling addiction experts praised the decision, with Jody Bechtold, CEO of The Better Institute, noting that the reinstatement application requirement helps prevent impulsive returns to gambling and promotes thoughtful decision-making.

Program Statistics:

• Total enrollees across all programs: 33,950
• Casino self-exclusion participants: 23,238
• Male participants: 15,045
• iGaming self-exclusions: 7,200+
• VGT self-exclusions: ~2,000
• Attempted casino entries by excluded persons since 2006: ~9,200

The Pennsylvania self-exclusion program remains one of the nation's most comprehensive, covering retail and online casinos, sports betting, truck stop VGTs, and fantasy sports.

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