Self-exclusion by state · Illinois
How to self-exclude from sports betting in Illinois
Illinois has one statewide list that covers every casino and every sportsbook, retail and online. Today it is also the hardest program to join and to leave: in person only, a five-year minimum, and a counselor's affidavit to get off. It does not cover the video gambling machines in bars and gas stations. New rules approved in September 2026 will add online enrollment and shorter terms, but they aren't in effect yet.
The short answer
One Illinois Gaming Board list covers casinos and all sports wagering, retail and online. Video gaming terminals are not covered. Enrollment is in person only for now.
Program: Illinois Gaming Board Self-Exclusion Program (SEP), run by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). Official page →
Terms: Current rule: minimum 5 years (5-year or indefinite) · PENDING (approved by IGB Sept 4, 2026, not yet in effect): 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, indefinite
Illinois help: 1-800-GAMBLER (IL Helpline; exact IDHS helpline branding and number); IGB SEP (312) 814-8832 / 1-877-968-7848
What to do today, before the state list kicks in
You can't enroll today unless you can get to a casino or another enrollment site. So today: self-exclude inside each app, install a blocker, and set up the phone-level blocks. Then call (312) 814-8832 or 1-877-968-7848 to plan the enrollment. If video gambling machines are the problem, the state list won't help yet — the blocking layers are what you have.
Then read how to block each app — excluding inside the app is usually faster than any state list, and it’s the first layer of the firewall.
What the Illinois list covers, and what it doesn’t
| Type of gambling | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Online sportsbooks | Covered | |
| Retail sportsbooks | Covered | |
| Casinos | Covered | |
| Online casino | N/A | (online casino is not legal in IL) |
| Daily fantasy / pick'em | Unconfirmed | Not stated |
| Lottery | Unconfirmed | Not mentioned by IGB; the IL Lottery is a separate agency. Probably not covered. |
| Video gaming machines | Not covered | |
| Tribal casinos | N/A | (no tribal casinos in IL) |
| Prediction markets (Kalshi etc.) | Unconfirmed | Not stated by IGB. CFTC-regulated prediction markets are probably not covered. |
The gaps people miss
- Video gaming terminals in bars, restaurants, truck stops and gaming cafes (50,000+ machines) are NOT covered. On Sept 4, 2026 IGB passed a resolution to add them using ID card readers, with a vendor deadline of Dec 31, 2027.
- As of Sept 2026 you still cannot enroll online or by mail. On Sept 4, 2026 IGB approved rules for online, mail and treatment-provider enrollment, but they still need JCAR rulemaking (expected 6-12 months) and the portal isn't built.
- The current minimum is 5 years, and leaving requires a certified gambling counselor's affidavit. It is not a short time-out.
- The IL Lottery (including online) is not covered.
- Prediction-market apps and offshore or sweepstakes sites are not covered.
- The IGB FAQ adds that enrolling also excludes you from casinos owned by Caesars, Boyd, Penn and MGM (including outside IL). this is still current. · unconfirmed
How to enroll in Illinois
| Way to enroll | Available? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Online | No | |
| In person | Yes | |
| By mail | No | |
| By phone or video | No |
- Find an enrollment site on the IGB Self-Exclusion Program page. Sites include all Illinois casinos and other designated locations.
- Call to schedule an appointment. IGB SEP lines: (312) 814-8832 or 1-877-968-7848 (IL residents).
- Bring a valid driver's license or state ID. Non-English speakers should bring an English-speaking translator.
- Complete enrollment in person, which takes about 30-45 minutes. It's free.
- Enrollment covers all Illinois casinos and all Illinois sports wagering (retail and online).
What you need
Valid driver's license or state-issued ID card, shown in person.
How long it takes to take effect
IGB does not state a deadline. The FAQ says marketing mail may take 'several weeks' to stop.
What happens to your balance and open bets
Do this first, whatever your state says: withdraw your balance and let open bets settle before you enroll. Getting money back afterward means dealing with an operator that is now required to refuse you.
The IGB pages don't address sportsbook balances or open bets. Chips, tokens and wagering slips found on a self-excluded person at a casino are confiscated.
Can you get off the list early?
No. Under current rules the minimum is 5 years. After that, removal requires a written recommendation or affidavit from a licensed mental health professional who is a certified gambling counselor or psychiatrist, based on at least two face-to-face sessions. Removal is not automatic. Under the pending rules, the shorter terms would auto-renew unless you opt out, and the 5-year and indefinite tiers would still require the counselor affidavit.
Free blocking software in Illinois
We haven’t found a state-funded free blocker for Illinois. Gamban costs about $42 a year; the iPhone Screen Time lock is free.
The Betting Firewall
This is one wall. You need five.
The Illinois list makes licensed operators refuse you. It does nothing about offshore sites, prediction-market apps, a friend’s account, or the money in your checking account. That’s what the other four layers are for.
- The appsSelf-exclude and close every sportsbook, fantasy, and prediction-market account you have. Guide →
- Your phoneBlock the apps and sites at the device level so a deleted app can't come back. Guide →
- A blockerInstall Gamban or another blocker that can't be removed early. Guide →
- Your moneyCard controls, gambling blocks at your bank, and someone else on the account. Guide →
- The state list — this pageEnroll in your state's self-exclusion program so every licensed operator has to refuse you.
The 24-Hour Betting Shutdown Plan
Self-exclusion is one wall. The Shutdown Plan walks you through all five layers of the Betting Firewall in one day — apps, phone, money, people, and the state list. Free, first name and email only.
Sign-up opens shortly. In the meantime, every step is on the Shutdown Plan page.
No spam, no selling your data, unsubscribe anytime. If you want structure past day one, the 90-Day Stop Betting Program is the next step — we’ll mention it once in the emails.