Rule Change Gives Michigan Problem Gamblers A Path Back To Detroit Casinos

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Formerly banned gamblers from Detroit’s three casinos may soon find a way to regain access.

The idea is endorsed by a Michigan-based advocacy group promoting responsible gambling.

After almost two decades, individuals on the Disassociated Persons List are now eligible to request removal from the list if they have been on it for a minimum of five years.

Persons are now granted the right to request removal from the Michigan Gaming Control Board self-exclusionary list under a recent legislation, namely Public Act 225 of 2020. This law has received support from a responsible gambling advocacy group and was sponsored by Rep. Ryan Berman, a Republican from Commerce Township.

Michigan is expanding its gambling options within the state, which includes the upcoming introduction of online gambling later this year.

What is the Disassociated Persons List in Michigan?

The Disassociated Persons List was created by the MGCB in accordance with the 1996 Michigan law.

Applicants were given the opportunity to willingly participate in a program where they would commit to never visiting a casino in Detroit for the rest of their lives. The board then distributes the list to all the casinos, the state’s attorney general, and the state police.

If any person listed were to enter a Detroit casino, they would be committing the crime of criminal trespass and could face a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

According to the MGCB, the list of individuals who have self-excluded themselves from Detroit casinos since 2001 currently stands at 4,825 as of October 1.

Applicants will have the opportunity to be removed from the list after a duration of five years under this act. To apply for inclusion in the Disassociated Persons List, please dial 1-888-223-3044.

Each of the state’s 23 tribal casinos operates under its own gaming commissions and regulations.

MGCB has received requests to get off list

In the past, Richard Kalm, the executive director of MGCB, has been approached by individuals who expressed their desire to have their names removed. Fortunately, this option is now accessible.

In a statement, Kalm expressed that the state’s approach of utilizing criminal law to address long-term gambling issues was both costly and severe in dealing with addiction.

Some individuals may reconsider signing up due to the possibility of a lifetime ban, while others may have experienced changes in their life circumstances.

Kalm recognized that problem gamblers still had the option to request removal from the list, allowing them to resume the very behaviors they had intended to prevent.

At least one application to be removed from the list has already been received by the MGCB. The board has a time frame of 30 business days to review and handle the request. Applicants will receive written notification, either through email or US mail, confirming whether their request has been approved or denied by the board.

Once a person’s name is removed from the list, the casino officials retain the right to exclude them. In such cases, the MGCB advises those individuals to reach out to the casinos directly.

Responsible gambling advocate signs off

According to Michael Burke, the president of the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling, the modification reduces the intimidating nature of the registration process for the program.

According to Burke, most of our board members believed that the lifetime ban on the Disassociated Persons List in Michigan might discourage potential gamblers from signing up. They felt that offering alternative self-exclusion options, like a two- or five-year ban, could attract more individuals to participate.

Burke, a resident of Portage, was once a practicing lawyer who unfortunately squandered $1.6 million of his clients’ funds at casinos located in Detroit and Windsor. Although he served a three-year sentence in jail, he has refrained from gambling for almost twenty years and has dedicated his efforts towards safeguarding others from similar misfortune.

To contact the Michigan Problem Gambling Hotline, dial 1-800-270-7117.

Here is the form to remove yourself from the Disassociated Persons List.

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