The program is opt-in and, once you are on the list, deliberately hard to undo early. Understanding the minimum periods and what counts as a violation before you sign up matters more than most people expect.
What the program covers
New Jersey's Voluntary Self-Exclusion program is a single list shared across every Atlantic City casino, every licensed internet gaming site and every licensed sports wagering operator in the state. There is no partial version that excludes you from internet gaming while leaving casino floor access open.
The program has existed for Atlantic City casinos since 2001 and was expanded to cover internet gaming in 2013, as licensed online casino play grew in the state.
How to sign up, and the periods each method offers
The minimum exclusion period you can choose depends on how you sign up, which is a detail people frequently miss until it is too late to change.
- Online, through your internet gaming player account or through the DGE's online self-exclusion portal: one year or five years only.
- In person or by video conference with the DGE (call 1-833-788-4DGE to arrange it): one year, five years, or lifetime.
- Lifetime self-exclusion is not an option through the online sign-up path; it requires the in-person or video-conference route.
What self-exclusion actually stops you from doing
Once you are on the list, casinos and licensed internet gaming sites must remove you from marketing and mailing lists, stop offering you complimentary goods or services, and stop extending casino credit or check-cashing privileges to you. Self-exclusion also bars you from joining or using a slot or players club, and from collecting winnings or recovering losses.
Getting off the list once your term ends
A one-year or five-year self-exclusion does not lift automatically when the term ends. You must proactively apply for reinstatement, either online or in person, once the minimum period has passed. Until you do, you remain excluded even after the minimum period expires.
A lifetime self-exclusion has no reinstatement path; it is intended to be permanent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I self-exclude from online casino play in New Jersey without also being barred from Atlantic City casinos?
No. New Jersey runs one Voluntary Self-Exclusion list covering Atlantic City casinos, internet gaming and sports wagering together. Signing up excludes you from all three; there is no online-only version.
What is the shortest self-exclusion period New Jersey offers?
One year is the shortest option, available whether you sign up online through your player account, through the DGE's online self-exclusion portal, or in person.
Can I sign up for a lifetime self-exclusion online?
No. The online sign-up paths (your internet gaming player account or the DGE's online portal) offer only one-year or five-year minimum periods. A lifetime exclusion requires contacting the DGE directly for an in-person or video-conference appointment.
Does my self-exclusion end automatically once the minimum period is over?
No. For one-year and five-year exclusions, you must proactively apply for reinstatement after the minimum period ends; you remain excluded until you do. Lifetime exclusion has no reinstatement path.
What happens if I gamble anyway while self-excluded?
New Jersey's rules require forfeiture of any winnings, chips, electronic credits or internet-gaming account funds connected to that activity, and you will be removed from the casino floor, sports wagering facility or internet gaming site. The DGE has enforced this forfeiture rule in past cases.
Sources
- New Jersey Office of the Attorney General: New Jersey's self-exclusion program was established in 2001 for Atlantic City casinos and expanded in 2013 to cover internet gaming.
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement: Online self-exclusion through a player account or the DGE's online portal offers one-year or five-year minimum periods; lifetime self-exclusion requires an in-person or video-conference appointment with the DGE.
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement: Self-excluded patrons found gambling are subject to forfeiture of winnings, chips, electronic credits and internet gaming account funds tied to that activity, and are removed from the gaming floor or site.
- New Jersey Office of the Attorney General: Self-exclusion means a person cannot gamble, receive or use complimentary goods or services, join or use a slot or players club, receive casino credit, cash checks at a casino, or collect winnings or recover losses; casinos must also remove self-excluded patrons from marketing and mailing lists.
- National Council on Problem Gambling: Free, confidential help for gambling problems is available by phone and online chat.