State self exclusion lists

What state self exclusion lists are

A state self-exclusion list is a register of people who have asked to be barred from licensed gambling in that state. The program's rules apply to the operators the state licenses, and the state, not the casino, oversees them. That outside enforcement is what sets a state list apart from asking one casino to close your account.

Programs differ a lot. Some cover casinos, some cover online play, some cover lottery or sports betting, and terms such as length and removal are set by each state. This page shows what official state records say and how to use them. For the broader toolkit, start at the responsible gambling hub.

State self-exclusion programs in official records

These programs appear on official state pages. We've only listed what those pages show; check the program page itself for current rules on length, coverage and removal.

Official pages: the New Jersey DGE Self Exclusion Program (opens in a new tab), the Illinois Gaming Board Self-Exclusion Program (opens in a new tab), the Indiana Internet Self-Restriction Program (opens in a new tab) and the Virginia Voluntary Exclusion Program (opens in a new tab).

Not seeing your state? That doesn't mean there's no program, only that it isn't in the official records we hold. Ask your state's regulator or helpline directly.

Self-exclusion in the seven online casino states

Seven states license real-money online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. If you play at state-licensed sites, the state regulator is the place to ask about a self-exclusion that covers online accounts.

Each state hub has more: see New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Connecticut, or the state regulators overview.

How to join a state self exclusion list

The details vary by program, but the path usually looks like this. Set aside some quiet time; it's a big step and it's worth doing carefully.

1. Find your state's program through the regulator, lottery or state helpline, using the table above or your state problem gambling program.
2. Read the official page for what it covers: casinos, online accounts, sports betting, lottery or a mix.
3. Check the length options and how removal works, if it's allowed at all.
4. Gather what the page says you'll need, which typically means confirming your identity.
5. Complete the enrollment the way the page describes, online or in person.
6. Keep your confirmation and note the start and end dates.
7. Self-exclude separately from any offshore site you've used, and install blocking software the same day.

What state self-exclusion lists cover, and what they don't

A state list binds the operators that state licenses. That can include land-based casinos, licensed online casinos, sportsbooks or the state lottery, depending on the program. Indiana's program, for example, is specifically an internet self-restriction program, while Illinois lists separate routes through the Gaming Board and the lottery.

It doesn't bind operators in other states, and it doesn't reach offshore casinos, which aren't licensed by any US state. If you live near a state line, consider enrolling in the neighboring state's program too if you play there. The gambling age by state and sports betting laws pages show what's licensed where.

Before you enroll: what to check on any state self exclusion list

State programs share a purpose but not a rulebook. Before you enroll, read the official page with these questions in mind. The right-hand column shows how differently states answer them, using only what official records show.

If any answer is unclear, ask the state's helpline before enrolling. Our state problem gambling programs page lists each one, and the cool-off periods guide covers shorter breaks if you're not ready for a long exclusion.

Self-exclusion if you live near a state line

A state list stops at the border. If you can reach another state's casinos, sportsbooks or lottery in a short drive or on your phone, one enrollment may leave a door open. Plenty of people live in exactly that position.

• District of Columbia and Virginia. DC's self-exclusion program is run by the Office of Lottery and Gaming, and Virginia's by the Virginia Lottery. Residents who play in both may want both.
• Chicago area and northwest Indiana. The Illinois Gaming Board program and Indiana's Internet Self-Restriction Program are separate, so check each one's coverage.
• New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Both license online casinos, through the Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and each oversees only its own operators.

1. List every state where you've gambled in the last year, in person or online.
2. Find each state's program through its regulator, lottery or helpline.
3. Compare coverage and length, and enroll in each one that applies.
4. Self-exclude separately from any offshore site, and install blocking software across your devices.

The National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program may also help; ask what it covers first. The states hub has each state's regulator, and blocking software closes the gap that no list can reach.

Why state lists don't reach offshore casinos

Offshore casinos operate outside US state licensing, so no state program can require them to check its list. Several states call these sites illegal or unlicensed; the Michigan Gaming Control Board, for instance, has sent cease-and-desist letters to offshore operators.

To close that gap, self-exclude with each offshore site directly, as described in self exclusion at offshore casinos, and use blocking software that covers sites on your devices. The offshore casinos legality page explains the legal background.

The National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program

Beyond state lists, a February 2026 referral sheet from the Division on Addiction says information on voluntary self-exclusion is available through the NCPG helpline or nvsep.org, the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program. Check what it covers and which operators take part before you rely on it.

The Division on Addiction referral sheet (opens in a new tab) also lists the national helpline, SAMHSA and 988 contacts.

Life after joining a self-exclusion list

Enrolling removes access, but the urges don't vanish on the same day. The first weeks are often the hardest. Things that help:

• Fill the time gambling used to take, especially at the hours you used to play.
• Tell someone you trust that you've enrolled, so you aren't keeping it secret.
• Join Gamblers Anonymous or the GamTalk forum.
• Look at treatment options if debt, mood or relationships have been hit.

If you slip and gamble somewhere the list doesn't reach, that's information, not failure. Tighten the outside barriers and reach out for support.

Free help while you're on a self-exclusion list

The National Problem Gambling Helpline, run by NCPG, is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), by call or text, 24/7. See the NCPG helpline page (opens in a new tab). It's free and confidential, and NCPG says it isn't a crisis line, so in a crisis call 911 or 988.

Some state pages still show 1-800-GAMBLER. That number stopped being the national helpline after September 29, 2025, so use 1-800-MY-RESET or your state's own line. More on that change is on the national helpline page.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).