DraftKings and Caesars Join Forces on Shared Self-Exclusion Database Across 12 US States
Two of America's largest online gambling operators have launched an interoperable self-exclusion platform that allows problem gamblers to block themselves from multiple sportsbooks and casinos with a single registration. The pilot covers 12 states and is expected to expand to all regulated US markets by Q4 2026.
DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment announced today the formal launch of UnifiedExclude, a shared self-exclusion infrastructure that allows at-risk players to register a single block that propagates instantly across both operators' sportsbook and iCasino products in 12 US states. The system, which has been in closed testing since January, leverages tokenized identity matching to ensure players who exclude themselves on one platform are automatically barred from the other within 30 minutes — a dramatic improvement over the patchwork state-by-state process that often takes days and requires repeated paperwork.
The initiative arrives amid mounting pressure from state regulators and advocacy groups who have long criticized the fragmented nature of US self-exclusion programs. Currently, a problem gambler must typically register separately with each operator and each state regulator, creating friction that public health researchers say undermines the effectiveness of voluntary harm reduction tools. The American Gaming Association has endorsed the framework and confirmed it is in discussions with BetMGM, Fanatics, and Penn Entertainment about joining the network before the NFL season kicks off in September.
Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, called the move "the most significant operator-led responsible gambling collaboration we've seen in the US market," though he cautioned that true effectiveness would require participation from all major books and eventual integration with state-run exclusion registries. Technical documentation released alongside the launch shows the platform uses a zero-knowledge proof architecture developed in partnership with identity firm Sumsub, meaning operators cannot see each other's customer data — only receive a binary exclusion flag tied to verified identity hashes.
The twelve states covered at launch include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, Colorado, and West Virginia. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins indicated the company has earmarked $18 million toward the program through 2027 and confirmed that exclusion periods set on the unified platform will honor the longest duration selected by the user, ranging from 72 hours to lifetime bans. Regulators in New York and Maryland are reportedly evaluating whether to mandate participation as a license condition.