Chapter 60. Self-Exclusion Program
11VAC5-60-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Department" or "Virginia Lottery" means the independent agency responsible for the administration of the Virginia Lottery pursuant to Chapters 40 (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.) and 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) of Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia.
"Self-excluded individual" means any individual whose name is included, at the individual's own request, on the self-exclusion list maintained by the department.
"Self-exclusion list" means a list maintained by the department of names of individuals who, pursuant to this chapter, have voluntarily agreed to refrain from (i) playing any account-based lottery game authorized under the provisions of the Virginia Lottery Law; (ii) participating in sports betting, as defined in § 58.1-4030 of the Code of Virginia; (iii) participating in casino gaming, as defined in § 58.1-4100 of the Code of Virginia; and (iv) participating in gaming activities administered by the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs or the Virginia Racing Commission. Self-excluded individuals whose names are on the self-exclusion list are prohibited from collecting any winnings or recovering any losses resulting from violation of the restrictions to which such individuals have agreed.
"Targeted mailing" means an advertisement or promotional offer directed to an individual on the basis of specific criteria, such as being a member or former member of a casino rewards club, a former sports betting participant, or a participant in social games. "Targeted mailing" does not include mass mailings made to an entire area or zip code nor does it include an advertisement that arrives in a packet of five or more non-gaming advertisements if such packet of advertisements is addressed to "resident," "occupant," or some similar wording and not to a specific individual. "Targeted mailing" further does not include any internet "pop-up" advertisement that appears on an individual's computer or mobile device on the basis of the individual's internet protocol address.
"Thing of value" means anything of value that may be used to engage in lottery, sports betting, or casino gaming activity, including cash and other forms of payment permissible under Chapters 40 (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.) and 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) of Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia, as well as free play offers and incentives.
"Winnings" means the aggregate total of proceeds from each individual winning lottery ticket or sports wager or casino game and shall not be reduced by any individual losses resulting from such activities.
Statutory Authority
§§ 58.1-4007 and 58.1-4015.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 4, eff. October 12, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2022.
11VAC5-60-20. Request for self-exclusion.
A. An individual may be placed on the department's self-exclusion list by submitting a request in the form and manner required by this section.
B. An individual requesting placement on the self-exclusion list shall submit a completed request for self-exclusion over the internet or as otherwise required by this chapter. If an individual requests to be placed on the self-exclusion for life list, such request shall be made in person at department headquarters or any other location specified by the department.
C. An individual requesting placement on the self-exclusion for life list shall submit, in person, a completed request for self-exclusion as required by this chapter. The request shall be delivered to department headquarters or any other location specified by the department.
D. A request for self-exclusion shall be in a form prescribed by the department that shall include:
1. The following identifying information concerning the individual submitting the request:
a. Name, including any aliases or nicknames;
b. Date of birth;
c. Street and mailing address of current residence;
d. Telephone number;
e. Social Security Number, which information is voluntarily provided in accordance with § 7 of the Privacy Act (5 USC § 552a); and
f. Valid identification credentials containing the individual's signature and a photograph of the individual.
2. The length of self-exclusion requested by the individual:
a. Two years;
b. Five years; or
c. Lifetime;
3. An acknowledgment that individuals on the self-exclusion list shall be prohibited from participating in any form of legalized gaming in the Commonwealth and are prohibited from collecting any winnings or recovering any losses resulting from violation of the restrictions to which such individuals have agreed;
4. An acknowledgment that the department shall coordinate the administration of the self-exclusion program with the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs and the Virginia Racing Commission pursuant to procedures developed by the department;
5. An acknowledgment that the department will share the self-exclusion list with operators of legal gambling in the Commonwealth and that such operators, pursuant to their own policies, may extend the exclusion of the individual to offerings at the operators' locations outside the borders of the Commonwealth;
6. An acknowledgment that the individual requesting self-exclusion shall notify the department within seven days if the individual's address or other contact information changes; and
7. A waiver and release that shall release and forever discharge the Commonwealth of Virginia, the department, the department's employees and agents, all holders of permits to operate a sports betting platform and licenses to operate a casino gaming establishment and their employees and agents, the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, and the Virginia Racing Commission and their employees and agents from any liability to the individual requesting self-exclusion, as applicable, and the individual's heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns for any harm, monetary or otherwise, that may arise out of or by reason of any act or omission relating to the request for self-exclusion or request for removal from the self-exclusion list, including:
a. The processing or enforcement of the request for self-exclusion or request for removal from the self-exclusion list;
b. The failure to withhold gaming privileges from or restore gaming privileges to a self-excluded individual;
c. Permitting a self-excluded individual to engage in gaming activity while on the list of self-excluded individuals; and
d. Disclosure of the information contained in the self-exclusion list, except for a willfully unlawful disclosure of such information.
E. For self-exclusion submissions for a stated period of time:
1. A sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment shall provide a link directly to the department's self-exclusion application form.
2. The department's online self-exclusion form shall provide to the self-excluding individual for the individual's acknowledgment the following statement:
"I am voluntarily requesting exclusion from all Virginia sports betting, casino gaming, and account-based lottery. I also understand that the department will share my information with the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, the Virginia Racing Commission, and all Virginia sports betting permit holders and casino gaming establishments, any of whom may prohibit me from participating in further gaming activities regulated or provided by those entities, including out-of-state sports betting sites or casinos in accordance with the policies of that sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment. I agree to notify the department within seven days if my contact information changes. I certify that the information I have provided is true and accurate, and that I have read and understand and agree to the waiver and release included with this request for self-exclusion. I am aware that my digital signature authorizes the department to prohibit me from participating in all account-based lottery games and to direct all holders of sports betting permits and casino gaming establishments in Virginia to restrict my gaming activities. I am further aware that my digital signature authorizes the department to share my information with the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs and the Virginia Racing Commission, who may further restrict my gaming activities. In accordance with this request and until such time as the department removes my name from the self-exclusion list under the terms of my request for voluntary self-exclusion, I am aware and agree that during any period of self-exclusion any money obtained by me in violation of the terms of my self-exclusion shall be subject to forfeiture and donated to the Commonwealth's Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund."
F. For lifetime self-exclusion submissions:
1. The signature of the individual submitting the request shall acknowledge the following statement:
"I am voluntarily requesting exclusion from all Virginia sports betting, casino gaming, and account-based lottery. In addition, I understand that my information will be shared with the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, the Virginia Racing Commission, and all Virginia sports betting permit holders and casino gaming establishments, any of whom may prohibit me from participating in further gaming activities regulated or provided by those entities, including out-of-state sports betting sites or casinos in accordance with the policies of that sports betting permit holder or casino establishment. I agree to notify the department within seven days if my contact information changes. I certify that the information I have provided is true and accurate, and that I have read and understand and agree to the waiver and release included with this request for self-exclusion. I am aware that my signature authorizes the department to prohibit me from participating in all account-based lottery games and to direct all holders of sports betting permits and casino gaming establishments in Virginia to restrict my gaming activities. I am further aware that my signature authorizes the department to share my information with the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs and the Virginia Racing Commission, who may further restrict my gaming activities. In accordance with this request I am aware and agree that any money obtained by me in violation of the terms of my self-exclusion shall be subject to forfeiture and donated to the Commonwealth's Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund."
2. The department shall document the type of identification credentials that were examined containing the signature of the individual requesting lifetime self-exclusion.
3. A department employee authorized to accept a self-exclusion request shall sign the application form and confirm that the signature of the individual on the request for lifetime self-exclusion appears to agree with that contained on the individual's identification credentials.
4 The department shall confirm the individual's request to be placed on the lifetime self-exclusion list.
Statutory Authority
§§ 58.1-4007 and 58.1-4015.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 4, eff. October 12, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2022.
11VAC5-60-30. Self-exclusion list.
A. The department shall maintain the official self-exclusion list and shall transmit notification of any addition to or deletion from the list to:
1. Each Virginia sports betting permit holder;
2. Each Virginia casino gaming establishment;
3. The Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs; and
4. The Virginia Racing Commission.
B. Each party noted in subsection A of this section shall maintain its own copy of the self-exclusion list and shall establish procedures to ensure that its copy of the list is kept up to date. All appropriate employees and agents of the parties noted in subsection A of this section who are notified of any addition to or deletion from the self-exclusion list shall update their lists accordingly. Changes to the list shall be made by each party noted in subsection A of this section within seven days after the day the notice is transmitted and any remaining balance in the individual's gaming account shall be refunded pursuant to internal control standards approved by the department and the department's regulations. The notice provided by the department shall include the following information concerning any individual whose name is added to the list:
1. Name, including any aliases or nicknames;
2. Date of birth;
3. Street and mailing address of current residence;
4. Telephone number;
5. Social Security number if voluntarily provided by the individual requesting self-exclusion; and
6. A photograph of the individual.
C. Information furnished to or obtained by the department pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed confidential and not be disclosed except in accordance with this chapter. The voluntary self-exclusion list and the personal information of participants in the voluntary self-exclusion program shall not be subject to disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
D. Except as provided in this subsection, no employee or agent of the department or any of the parties included in subsection A of this section shall disclose the name of or any information about any excluded individual to anyone other than employees and agents whose duties and functions require access to such information.
1. Any sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment may disclose the name of and information about a self-excluded individual to appropriate employees of other sports betting permit holders or casino gaming establishments in Virginia for the purpose of alerting the employees that a self-excluded individual has tried to gamble or obtain gaming related privileges or benefits from the sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment. In addition, the permit holder or casino may share the name of and information about self-excluded individuals across the corporate enterprise of the permit holder or casino, including sharing such information with any of its affiliates.
2. It shall be permissible for a sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment, or an employee or agent thereof, to disclose the names of individuals on the self-exclusion list to a third party that is registered , licensed, or permitted by the department pursuant to 11VAC5-70 or 11VAC5-90 for the purpose of allowing the third party to remove the names of such individuals from a targeted mailing or other advertising or promotion to be made on behalf of the sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment. The third party to whom the self-exclusion list is disclosed shall be prohibited from distributing or disclosing the list to the public or to any other party and shall be required to establish procedures approved by the department to ensure the self-exclusion list is not disclosed.
3. A registered, licensed, or permitted third party that obtains the self-exclusion list from a sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment shall be permitted to use the list solely to exclude names or addresses from a marketing campaign on behalf of the sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment. Such company may not use the self-exclusion list for any other type of marketing or for any other purpose whatsoever.
Statutory Authority
§§ 58.1-4007 and 58.1-4015.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 4, eff. October 12, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2022.
11VAC5-60-40. Duties of sports betting permit holder and casino gaming establishment.
A. Sports betting permit holders and casino gaming establishments shall establish procedures that are designed, to the greatest extent practicable, to:
1. Prevent an individual on the self-exclusion list from opening a new sports betting or casino gaming player's account and from entering onto the gaming floor of a casino;
2. Identify and suspend any sports betting or casino gaming accounts of an individual on the self-exclusion list;
3. Refund any remaining balance to an individual on the self-exclusion list consistent with the department's regulations and the department-approved internal controls of the permit holder or casino;
4. Ensure that self-excluded individuals do not receive, either from the permit holder or casino or any agent thereof, targeted mailings, telemarketing promotions, player club materials, or other targeted promotional materials relating to sports betting or casino gaming; and
5. Enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B. Upon notification that an individual has been added to or deleted from the self-exclusion list, each sports betting permit holder and casino gaming establishment shall comply with all relevant provisions of 11VAC5-60-50.
C. Each sports betting permit holder shall maintain on file a current copy of the permit holder's internal control standards procedures established pursuant to 11VAC5-60-60 and 11VAC5-70.
D. Each casino gaming establishment shall maintain on file a current copy of the casino's internal control standards procedures established pursuant to 11VAC5-60-60 and 11VAC5-90.
Statutory Authority
§§ 58.1-4007 and 58.1-4015.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 4, eff. October 12, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2022.
11VAC5-60-50. Removal from self-exclusion list.
A. Upon expiration of the period of self-exclusion requested pursuant to 11VAC5-60-20, the department shall remove the individual's name from the self-exclusion list and notify each sports betting permit holder, each casino gaming establishment, the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, and the Virginia Racing Commission of the removal.
B. Within seven days of receipt of notice from the department, the parties notified in subsection A of this section shall delete the name of the individual from the parties' self-exclusion lists.
Statutory Authority
§§ 58.1-4007 and 58.1-4015.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 4, eff. October 12, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2022.
11VAC5-60-60. Forfeiture of winnings by self-excluded individual.
A. If a sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment detects or is notified of the presence of a suspected self-excluded individual who has engaged in or is engaging in gaming activity, the permit holder or casino gaming establishment shall take reasonable measures to verify that the individual is self-excluded and the evidence of the individual's exclusion.
B. Upon verification of the individual's self-excluded status, the sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment shall:
1. Immediately prohibit access to the individual's sports betting or casino gaming player's account, prohibit any further gaming activity, return the balance accrued prior to the exclusion request, and seize any winnings that accrue after the exclusion request; and
2. Issue a Payout Receipt and Notice of Forfeiture to the excluded player in person or via electronic or regular mail, containing the following:
a. The total value and a detailed description of winnings that were seized;
b. The date of the incident;
c. The name of the self-excluded individual, if known, and basis for determining the individual is a self-excluded individual;
d. The street and mailing address of the self-excluded individual, if known, at which the individual may be notified regarding any future proceedings;
e. The date of the in-person, internet, or mobile wagering session during which the self-excluded individual was engaged in gaming ; and
f. Notice to the self-excluded individual that the department shall be seeking forfeiture of the winnings seized, that the individual has the right to be heard about the forfeiture, and that failure to respond to a forfeiture notice from the department shall be deemed a waiver of the right to be heard.
C. The original Payout Receipt and Notice of Forfeiture prepared and signed as required in subsection B of this section shall be maintained on file by the sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment. Copies of the document shall be provided to the self-excluded individual and filed with the department, which filing may be made electronically.
D. All funds identified by a permit holder or casino as subject to forfeiture shall be maintained separately and held by the sports betting permit holder or casino until further order of the department or upon notice from the department that the funds may be released.
E. Pursuant to the self-excluded individual's request submitted under 11VAC5-60-20, any winnings seized from a self-excluded individual shall be subject to forfeiture, following notice to the self-excluded individual and an opportunity to be heard. A failure to respond to a forfeiture notice shall result in the waiver of the right to be heard.
F. The internal control standards of a sports betting permit holder or casino gaming establishment shall contain procedures for processing any winnings seized from a self-excluded individual as if the winnings were paid and reported in accordance with normal procedures applicable to such payouts. Such procedures shall include, however, such modification to forms or additional documentation as necessary to record and report the payout as a payout withheld from a self-excluded individual. This documentation shall be compared by the accounting department of the permit holder or casino at the end of the gaming day to the copy of the Payout Receipt and Notice of Forfeiture. Any winnings withheld from a self-excluded individual that are paid and reported in accordance with the normal procedures applicable to such payouts, as modified in this section, shall be deducted in the calculation of gross revenue as if the winnings were actually paid to the self-excluded individual.
G. The department may initiate forfeiture of a self-excluded individual's winnings by sending notice to the self-excluded individual via personal service or regular mail sent to the address provided by the individual. Notice shall include a description of the winnings subject to forfeiture and the self-excluded individual's right to a hearing.
H. If the self-excluded individual wishes to contest the forfeiture, the individual shall submit a written request for a hearing within 15 days of the date of the notice of the forfeiture. If no response is filed by the self-excluded individual within 15 days of the date of the notice of the forfeiture, the winnings shall be deemed forfeited and transmitted to the Commonwealth's Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund. The decision of the department shall be final and may not be appealed.
Statutory Authority
§§ 58.1-4007 and 58.1-4015.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 4, eff. October 12, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2022.