Puerto Rico is set to strengthen its responsible gaming framework after officially joining the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP), a growing US-wide initiative designed to simplify self-exclusion across gambling platforms and jurisdictions.
The island’s gaming regulator, the Comisión de Juegos del Gobierno de Puerto Rico, confirmed the partnership this week, with the new system expected to go live in June.
Under the programme, players in Puerto Rico will be able to voluntarily block themselves from multiple licensed gambling operators through a single registration process. The system will cover land-based casinos, sports betting services and other regulated gambling activities operating within participating jurisdictions.
Puerto Rico’s gaming market has expanded steadily in recent years, particularly in sports wagering and regulated casino operations. Officials said the move is aimed at improving consumer protection while modernising oversight across the sector.
The NVSEP was launched in 2024 to create a centralised self-exclusion network across the United States. It is already active in several jurisdictions, including California, Colorado, Michigan, Louisiana and Wisconsin, with Massachusetts also preparing to join.
Before the launch of the national system, self-exclusion processes were handled separately by operators or local regulators, often requiring players to submit multiple requests. Industry stakeholders argued that the fragmented approach reduced effectiveness and created unnecessary barriers for users seeking support.
Puerto Rico Gaming Commission Executive Director Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán described the partnership as part of the regulator’s wider commitment to safer gambling policies.
He said the initiative would provide more accessible tools for people dealing with gambling-related harm while supporting the commission’s ongoing responsible gaming campaigns.
The technology behind the programme is provided by idPair, a company focused on responsible gaming and cross-jurisdiction compliance systems. Through the platform, participating operators receive exclusion data and can automatically apply restrictions across their services.
idPair CEO Jonathan Aiwazian said the system is designed to simplify the self-exclusion process for players while helping operators meet compliance requirements more efficiently.
The expansion reflects a broader global trend toward centralised responsible gaming systems. Similar self-exclusion models have recently been introduced or upgraded in markets such as Brazil and Portugal as regulators push for stronger consumer safeguards and easier access to support tools.
Puerto Rico has not yet disclosed how many operators will participate when the programme launches next month.