Arizona officials want more people to find out about the state’s self-exclusion program

The Arizona Department of Gaming has launched a new public service announcement which are aimed at boosting awareness for the state’s self-exclusion program.

The idea is to reach residents who may be struggling with their gambling habits and who need support. The Department is hoping to help the program reach a wider audience within the state, raising the program’s profile and enrolling more people who may need assistance. The idea is to limit the exposure of people who are vulnerable or experience the negative impact of gambling by restricting their access to the state’s licensed fantasy sports apps, wagering, or gambling establishments. The program, called Take Back the Game, offers players the opportunity to enter the state’s self-exclusion system and exclude for periods varying from 1 year minimum to 5 or 10 years. To this end, the state has already seen as many as 2,500 people currently registered, with 12,000 in total having used it since it launched in the early aughts. Commenting on the program’s success so far, Department officials explained that it has been designed to directly limit the temptations that consumers experience when looking for a place to play - or avoid it altogether. Participants report reduced triggers and temptation for gambling – allowing them to focus on their well-being while spending more time on hobbies and with their family, as represented in Take Back the Game, the Department said in a statement.

Arizona has also moved against other companies that it deems to be offering gambling products without the necessary licensing. The gaming regulator has sent cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes social casinos, which are not part of the state’s exclusion list. Most recently, Arizona has also been fighting an uphill battle against the prediction market vertical with limited success. A federal judge ruled last week that the state will have to pause its criminal prosecution against Kalshi, a prominent prediction market platform. At the same time, the federal government, in the face of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has gone on the offensive, suing Arizona and other states for their alleged attempt to override local federal laws with local gaming laws.