Illinois Casinos to Start Carding Younger Patrons
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – As reported by the PJ Star: "As of Aug. 15, the East Peoria-based Par-A-Dice and Illinois' other eight casinos will start carding every customer who appears to be age 30 or younger.
"The Illinois Gaming Board, which regulates the casino industry, said the idea is to ensure that problem gamblers who have enrolled in the casinos' "self-exclusion program" do not enter the gambling establishments. People who sign up for the voluntary program, which started in 2002, agree to ban themselves from Illinois casinos.
"Rob Stillwell, spokesman for Boyd Gaming Inc. of Las Vegas, which owns the Par-A-Dice, said Friday that he does not know details of the new plan to check younger customers for ID, but the Par-A-Dice will 'comply 100 percent.'
"In a news release, Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe said Thursday that the panel 'is showing its commitment to the issue of problem gambling.'
"…Information from a customer's driver's license or other government-issued identification will be scanned and compared electronically with the Gaming Board's database of individuals who enrolled in the self-exclusion program.
"…The casino industry also has agreed to seek trespassing charges against anyone who violates the self-exclusion program…"
2006-06-27
