National Gambling Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program Takes First Step to Increase Access to Help

idPair Inc., an award-winning provider of safer gaming technology, announced the upcoming launch of The National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP). Pending all regulatory and other necessary approvals, the program will launch in New England in summer 2024 and expand west and south in the following months.

This initiative is guided by two concepts: (1) Individuals needing seamless access to a National Voluntary Self-Exclusion list irrespective of geographical location; and (2) alignment of data sets for a single portal of current regulatory information and evolving public health resources.

Marlene Warner, CEO of the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health (MACGH), said: “A national program has been needed for a long time, and I am thrilled that New England has the potential to lead the way with this remarkable step forward to a more seamless approach to Voluntary Self-Exclusion. With the National VSE Program, individuals will soon have a unified platform for seeking help and support across the entire United States and receiving up to date information as it’s needed. I encourage all state gaming regulators to join this initiative to provide a stronger safety net for consumers.”

Dr. Michelle Malkin, Director of the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative (GRPI) at East Carolina University, said: “Conducting research on voluntary-self exclusion (VSE) has shown that the process can be confusing for those seeking help, especially if they are looking to VSE across multiple jurisdictions. Having an opportunity to engage with the tool using a single process across states will assist those using VSE as a deterrent to gamble and will help make VSE easier to understand which may increase engagement.”

“States do not have to change the terms of their individual programs to join NVSEP, a key detail that solves a problem that had held back this advancement in player protection for so long. The current state programs will coexist with the new option, giving consumers the flexibility to exclude from as many or as few states and products as they choose, including both land-based and online gambling. While current self-exclusion protections don’t travel, people do, and we look forward to working with more states to use technology to provide a more comprehensive level of protection for those who need it most,” Jonathan Aiwazian, CEO of idPair, said.