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Michigan Relaxes Lifetime Self-Exclusion Law for Gamblers
By Jeff Osienya Nov 02, 2020 LegalityDetroit casinos are now allowed to welcome back patrons who had excluded themselves from gambling permanently after Michigan amended its self-exclusion registry protocols. Residents can now apply for removal from the blacklist after a 5-year ban.For the first time in almost two decades, Michigan players who voluntarily signed themselves up for lifetime self-exclusion from the state’s three casinos in Detroit are now allowed to apply to be removed from the list after a five-year period. The changes have been introduced thanks to a new Michigan state law, the Public Act 225 of 2020 that was sponsored by State Representative Ryan Barman of Commerce Township (District 39).
The Disassociated Persons List, as the self-exclusion list is known in the Great Lakes State, is maintained by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). Players who gave themselves a lifetime ban from gambling by joining the list can now ask the gaming regulatory agency, MGCB to remove their name from the list after being there for at least five years.
A Welcome Move from All Corners of the Industry
Both players and regulators in the Great Lakes State agree that the new law will assist in the control of problem gamblers in the state. According to some industry experts, the former restrictions were too harsh and would have discouraged problem gamblers from enlisting themselves on the self-exclusion registry. Now that there’s a more reasonable option for a five-year exclusion instead of the initial lifetime ban, it will be easier for individuals to sign themselves up for a temporary breather.
Richard S. Kalm, the Executive Director of the MGCB embraced the changes in the law for self-excluded players in the following press statement;
Quote“Previously, the state used criminal law to combat a gambling problem for a lifetime, which is an expensive, harsh way to deal with an addiction. A lifetime ban actually may deter some people from signing up. For others, their life circumstances may have changed. Of course, people with gambling problems may request removal and resume behaviors they sought to prevent by going on the list. I’ve received many requests over the years from people on the Disassociated Persons List who wanted to remove their names, but state law did not offer the option until the new act was signed Oct.16.”
The Portage-based Michigan Association on Problem Gambling also agreed with the new law, even though it’s an organization that has always been neutral on gambling activities in the state. Michel Burke, the president of the problem gambling group voiced his support of the new changes by saying;
Quote“The majority of our board felt the Disassociated Persons List lifetime ban in Michigan may have acted as a deterrent to gamblers who may be more likely to sign up if they have other self-exclusion options such as a two- or five-year ban available.”
How Can Banned Players Apply for Removal from the Exclusion List?
Any Michigan resident who has been on the Disassociated Persons List for at least five years qualifies to start the removal process by filling in a new form that’s available on MGCB’s official website. The MGCB has already started processing its first removal application which was submitted on the 19th of October.
After the state’s gaming regulator receives a request from a person who has completed the form and submitted it accordingly, it has a processing period of 30 business days. Once the waiting period has passed, the applicant will then receive written notice via email indicating whether their request has been accepted or denied based on their qualifications.
It’s also worth noting that being removed from the Disassociated Persons List isn’t a guarantee that the three casinos in Detroit will grant a player full access to their gaming services and facility. An individual casino still reserves the right to maintain the individual’s evicted status, even after you are removed from MGCB’s self-exclusion registry. In such a case, the affected person will have to resolve the situation by directly contacting the casino to discuss the reinstatement.
By 1st October 2020, the Great Lakes State had a total of 4,825 persons who had permanently excluded themselves from casinos in the state since 2001. The Disassociated Persons List however doesn’t apply for casinos that are operated by any of the 12 federally recognized Native American tribes. The tribal casinos have their own oversight body under federal law.
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