Island gaming commission joins self-exclusion program.

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico will become the first U.S. territory to participate in the National Voluntary Self‑Exclusion Program (NVSEP), a unified system that allows individuals to bar themselves from multiple gambling operators through a single registration.

The information was provided by iGaming Business (IGB), an established source of information for the regulated global gaming industry, citing the island’s gaming regulator this week.

The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission said the integration will begin in June, extending the national self‑exclusion framework to the island’s land‑based casinos, regulated sports betting platforms and other licensed gambling activities. The move comes as Puerto Rico’s gaming sector continues to expand under a regulated model, the publication said.

The NVSEP, launched in 2024, currently operates in eight U.S. states -- California, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Louisiana -- with Massachusetts set to join later this year. Puerto Rico’s participation marks a significant expansion of the program beyond the continental U.S.

Before the NVSEP, self‑exclusion procedures were fragmented, requiring players to file separate requests with individual operators or jurisdictions. Regulators say this complexity discouraged participation and limited the effectiveness of responsible‑gaming tools.

The national platform consolidates those processes, enabling individuals to restrict access to casinos, sports betting websites and other regulated gambling services through a single online application.

“This alliance strengthens our public policy efforts to maintain a safe, highly regulated gaming industry grounded in responsible gaming practices,” said Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán, executive director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, as quoted by IGB.

He added that the initiative complements ongoing education campaigns and reinforces the commission’s commitment to consumer protection.

The NVSEP platform was developed by idPair, a technology firm that specializes in cross-jurisdictional exclusion systems. CEO Jonathan Aiwazian said the integration will “simplify self‑exclusion for individuals while streamlining processes for operators.”

The system enables data‑sharing between participating jurisdictions, improving regulatory coordination and helping operators maintain compliance across multiple markets.

The island gaming commission, which did not disclose how many operators will participate in the program at the outset, said the integration represents a step toward modernizing regulatory oversight while prioritizing consumer protection.