Self-exclusion for online gaming
A state self-exclusion list is a contract with licensed operators. It is not a nationwide kill switch. Unlicensed and offshore sites have no duty to honor it.
Answer first
90s| Question | Honest answer | Where it is written |
|---|---|---|
| What does self-exclusion do? | Bars you from licensed online accounts | MI RGD · NJ · PA iGaming lists |
| Who must honor it? | Licensed operators in that state | State gaming board rules |
| Unlicensed / offshore sites? | No obligation; no board recourse | MGCB Oct 8, 2026 C&D |
| One list for every state? | No — each state program is separate | NJ DGE · PGCB · MGCB pages |
| Land casino too? | Often a separate list or choice | MI DPL vs RGD; PA casino vs iGaming |
| Can I reverse it anytime? | Usually not until the term ends | That state’s enrollment rules |
Progress
What the list can and cannot reach
- 1
You enroll
Regulator form, portal, or licensed account tools
- 2
Licensed sites
Must block accounts, bets, and often marketing
- 3
Board oversight
Complaint path if a licensee ignores the list
- 4
Unlicensed .com
Outside the list — deposits can still go through
Michigan’s Gaming Control Board put the gap in plain words: licensed operators must honor the Responsible Gaming Database; offshore operators have no such obligation.
Sequence
How a licensed-market exclusion works
Step 01
Confirm your state has a program
Start at the state gaming board or lottery responsible-gaming page — not an ad ranking or a site’s own “ban me” widget alone.
Step 02
Choose the product lane
Online casino, online sports, land casino, VGT, or fantasy may be separate lists. Enrolling in one does not always cover the others.
Step 03
Pick the exclusion term
Common options are one year, five years, or lifetime. Early removal is often blocked until the term ends.
Step 04
Expect account and marketing blocks
Licensed operators must refuse new accounts and wagering, and typically stop promotional contact for that product.
Step 05
Do not treat unlisted sites as covered
If the site is not on your state’s authorized-operator list, the self-exclusion database does not bind it.
Three licensed markets with official online programs
| State | Online program | What we verified |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Responsible Gaming Database (RGD) | 1- or 5-year ban from regulated online casino and/or sports |
| New Jersey | DGE Internet self-exclusion | Internet gaming + sports; 1 yr, 5 yr, or lifetime (lifetime in person/video) |
| Pennsylvania | PGCB iGaming Self-Exclusion | Separate from casino / VGT / fantasy lists; 1 yr, 5 yr, or lifetime |
Other states with licensed iGaming publish their own tools. Always open that state’s page — terms differ, and this table is not a substitute for the form.
Floor rules
Words that keep the promise honest
Know before you sit
- Self-exclusion list
- A voluntary ban database the regulator shares with licensees. It is a player-protection tool, not a criminal exclusion list for cheats.
- Licensed operator
- A company on the state’s authorized internet-gaming or sports-betting roster. Only those operators must honor the list.
- Responsible Gaming Database
- Michigan’s statewide online self-exclusion file for internet gaming and/or internet sports betting (separate from Detroit’s land DPL).
- Internet self-exclusion
- New Jersey’s remote-only lane — or the internet portion of a broader enrollment — covering licensed NJ internet gaming and sports wagering.
- iGaming Self-Exclusion
- Pennsylvania’s interactive-gaming list. Casino, VGT, and fantasy contests are separate PGCB programs.
What exclusion does — and does not — cover
It does cover licensed online casino and sports products the state program names: account opening, wagering, and usually marketing from those licensees. Boards can discipline a licensee that ignores the list.
It does not cover unlicensed offshore sites, sweepstakes-style products outside the licence, or every land floor by default. Michigan’s land Disassociated Persons List and online RGD are different tools; Pennsylvania’s casino and iGaming lists are separate too.
Licensees may also apply wider house bans (other products or properties). That is operator policy on top of the regulator list — still not a worldwide internet block.
Watch outs
Common myths
01“I self-excluded, so every .com must refuse me.”
False. Only licensed operators in that program must refuse you. Unlisted sites are outside the board’s list.
02“One enrollment covers every US state.”
False. NJ, PA, and MI each run their own programs. Cross-state coverage is not automatic.
03“Online exclusion always bans the hotel casino.”
Not always. Land and online are often separate enrollments; some licensees extend bans by policy, not by one universal rule.
04“I can cancel tomorrow if I change my mind.”
Usually no. Michigan’s RGD runs to the chosen term with no early removal; PA iGaming expires at term end; NJ keeps you until you request removal after the minimum period.
Ranked lists
Open a shortlist that matches this guide
Same intent, inventory first — tap through for the places we already publish for Las Vegas.
After the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01What self-exclusion does
What is self-exclusion for online gaming?
It is a voluntary ban you request through a state gaming regulator (or through tools the licence requires). Licensed internet gaming and sports operators in that state must block your accounts and wagering for the term you chose. It is not a browser filter and not a federal ban.
Does self-exclusion stop me from using unlicensed sites?
No. Michigan’s Gaming Control Board stated in its Oct 8, 2026 cease-and-desist announcement that offshore operators have no obligation to honor the Responsible Gaming Database, and the Board cannot recover deposits made on those sites. Treat unlisted sites as outside the program.
Is online self-exclusion the same as a land-casino ban?
Often no. Michigan’s Disassociated Persons List covers Detroit commercial casinos; the Responsible Gaming Database covers regulated online gaming and sports. Pennsylvania keeps separate casino and iGaming lists. New Jersey lets you choose land-plus-internet or internet-only paths. Read the form for the product you mean.
02Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
How does Michigan’s online self-exclusion work?
Michigan’s Responsible Gaming Database lets you voluntarily ban yourself from all Michigan-regulated online casino gaming, internet sports betting, or both for one or five years. Placement can take up to 45 days after a complete application. Your name comes off automatically when the term ends; early removal is not offered.
How does New Jersey internet self-exclusion work?
The Division of Gaming Enforcement maintains an Internet self-exclusion list for licensed New Jersey internet gaming and sports wagering. Online registration covers one- or five-year terms; lifetime exclusion requires an in-person or video appointment. One request covers all NJ internet gaming and online sports wagering sites.
How does Pennsylvania iGaming self-exclusion work?
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s iGaming Self-Exclusion Program bans participation in legalized Pennsylvania interactive gaming for one year, five years, or lifetime. It is separate from casino, VGT, and fantasy programs. Licensees must refuse wagers and related privileges; you can still withdraw remaining funds per Board materials.
03Limits and help
Can CasinoList enroll me or recommend a site after I exclude?
No. CasinoList does not run self-exclusion, does not list online casino operators, and does not help anyone shop around a ban. Use your state regulator’s responsible-gaming page for enrollment, and call 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential help.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page summarizes official regulator materials checked on Oct 12, 2026 so readers understand the licensed-only boundary. For your situation, follow the state form and, if needed, speak with counsel or a problem-gambling counselor.
Sources
- MGCB news — 33 cease-and-desist letters; offshore sites offer no self-exclusion safety net (Oct. 8, 2026) · accessed Oct 12, 2026Licensed operators must honor the RGD; offshore operators have no such obligation and no MGCB recourse for deposits.
- Michigan Gaming Control Board — Responsible Gaming · accessed Oct 12, 2026DPL (Detroit commercial casinos) vs Responsible Gaming Database (regulated online gaming / sports).
- Michigan Gaming Control Board — Responsible Gaming FAQ (RGD) · accessed Oct 12, 20261- or 5-year online exclusion; up to 45 days to place; no early removal; automatic expiry.
- MCL 432.312 — statewide responsible gaming database · accessed Oct 12, 2026Statutory basis for Michigan’s internet-gaming responsible gaming database and operator RG tools.
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement — Self-Exclusion Program · accessed Oct 12, 2026Land-plus-internet and internet-only paths; online registration 1 or 5 years; lifetime via appointment.
- N.J.A.C. 13:69G — Exclusion of Persons (PDF) · accessed Oct 12, 2026Internet self-exclusion list duties for casino licensees; 24-hour update and refund rules.
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board — Self-Exclusion Enrollment · accessed Oct 12, 2026Official PGCB enrollment portal for casino, iGaming, VGT, and fantasy self-exclusion.
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board — Self-Exclusion FAQ · accessed Oct 12, 2026Four separate PGCB programs; iGaming term expires at end; licensees may extend house bans.
- Commonwealth of PA — Request voluntary self-exclusion from gambling activities · accessed Oct 12, 2026State service page listing casino, interactive, VGT, and fantasy self-exclusion lanes.