A casino employee, Kelley, who is known as @casinomassagekelley on TikTok, shared an unfortunate story that will only frustrate friends and family members of an addicted gambler.

Gambler who won $150,000 slot jackpot had placed himself in the self-exclusion program and was forced to forfeit his winnings

In a viral TikTok that’s garnered over a half million views, Kelley shared how a gambler was denied a $150,000 slot machine jackpot because the individual had admitted themself in the self-exclusion program.

“I work in a casino, and this guy hit $150,000 slot jackpot. … Then they came to pay him out, and they took his ID and everything. It turned out he had banned himself from the casino, from all of the properties. So, he literally got trespassed and did not get anything.”

Gamblers are allowed to admit themselves in the self-exclusion program in order to help them overcome their gambling addiction. Attorney General for the New Jersey State Department, Matthew J. Platkin, explained self-exclusion on the government’s website.

“The program was established in 2001 to allow [problem gamblers] to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling in Atlantic City casinos. In 2013, the program was expanded to also include self-exclusion for Internet gaming activities.”

It’s not a good idea for gamblers to add themselves to the list if they plan on winning money.

Credits and complimentary services aren’t offered to self-excluded gamblers

It is the responsibility of the casino to prevent anyone placed on the self-exclusion list from gambling within the facility. Regulators have taken steps to ensure that compulsive gamblers are denied access online as well.

“For land-based casinos, the Division will distribute a photograph and description of you to each casino. The casinos will then remove you from any mailing lists and make notations in their computer files that you are ineligible for any kind of credit or complimentary service.”

The statement mentions that credits and complimentary services aren’t offered to self-excluded gamblers. The website also states, “If you are caught gambling at a casino, … you will be subject to forfeiture of any winnings.”

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, casino self-exclusions for one year or five years remain in effect until the self-excluded person requests removal at the conclusion of the ban.

In the Keystone State, a person’s winnings are confiscated, and the gambler would receive a citation for criminal trespass. iGaming, VGT, and Fantasy self-exclusions expire at the conclusion of the selected ban period.

Of course, friends and family members cannot put someone they know on the self-exclusion list. Placement on the list is entirely voluntary and must be done by the individual seeking exclusion.