The Iowa gambling regulator has revealed that around 550 state residents that had previously opted for lifetime self-exclusion from gambling have submitted the necessary paperwork to have their ban removed, local media reported.
This has become possible after Iowa lawmakers introduced and passed earlier this year a bill that changed the law on self-exclusion from gaming services. The new regulations came into force on July 1.
Iowa’s original self-exclusion program was introduced back in 2004. It allowed customers to ban themselves from casinos and other gambling facilities for a lifetime. They only had to sign a voluntary self-exclusion form, which contained information about the gambling customers which was shared with casinos that participated in the program.
Earlier this year, the state House introduced a bill that called for the implementation of certain changes in the way players could self-exclude from the state’s gambling venues. The bill quickly gained momentum in both chambers of the state Legislature and was passed to eventually come into law on July 1.
Under its provisions, gambling customers now can apply for removal of their existing lifetime ban from gambling. The only requirement is that they have to have been excluded for five or more years.
In addition, players can now self-exclude from the state’s gambling facilities for a five-year period or for a lifetime.
The new law was welcomed by organizations dealing with treatment of people with problem gambling behavior. According to those organizations, more people would now opt for self-exclusion as they will be able to ban themselves from gambling for a shorter period of time.
Customers’ Response to the New Regulations
Local news outlet Radio Iowa reported citing the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission that around 550 have applied for having their lifetime ban revoked. Brian Ohorilko, Administrator of the state’s gambling regulator, told media that of those who have submitted the necessary paperwork, around 500 were found to be eligible to have their ban lifted.
Mr. Ohorilko explained that the regulator usually needs several days to examine the paperwork and to determine whether a person is eligible or not. The gambling official also pointed out that of all self-excluded individuals, around 4,000 are eligible to be removed from the list of those banned from casinos and other gambling facilities.
Said list is currently said to be used by 20 different venues across the sate. Mr. Ohorilko said that it might take between a week and a whole month before all the properties remove an individual from their databases of banned patrons.
The gambling official further dwelt that while more requests were filed in the first months after the new law came into effect, such requests have gradually subsided in recent weeks, and that they do not believe there will be any drastic increase in the number of people who would want to lift their self-imposed ban on gambling.
