The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has been extremely busy this week after issuing more than 60 cease-and-desist letters to entities allegedly operating illegal online casino and online sweepstakes gaming platforms in the Prairie State. The news was announced on Thursday afternoon and done in coordination with the Illinois Attorney General’s office.
Each operator is being demanded to immediately block Illinois residents from accessing their internet sites or discontinue offering prizes to Illinois users. Operators who fail to comply may be subject to civil or criminal penalties under Illinois law. Offering games of chance that award money or other items of value via the internet is a violation of Illinois criminal law.
Several established sweepstakes casino brands received the letters, including:
Illinois law only permits legal gambling for licensed riverboat casinos and land-based casinos holding an owners’ license, racetracks with organizational gaming licenses, sportsbooks licensed under the Sports Wagering Act, and video gaming licensees licensed under the Video Gaming Act. Internet sites that allow casino gambling, however, are prohibited.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the law is clear.
“Unlicensed gaming operators put Illinois consumers at risk and undermine the integrity of our regulated gaming market. We will continue to work with the Illinois Gaming Board to protect our residents and hold illegal operators accountable,” Raoul said.
IGB administrator Marcus D. Fruchter highlighted how illegal online gambling operations “threaten consumer protections, undermine responsible gaming safeguards, and are antithetical to the public’s interest in regulated gaming.”
Every IGB cease-and-desist letter includes the same wording with the subject line being “Suspected Illegal Online Casino Operation” followed by the casino name. All of the letters reiterate current Illinois gambling law.
Here is how the one addressed to Chumba Casino opens:
“The Illinois Gaming Board (the “IGB”) has reason to believe that Chumba Casino is engaged in the operation of an illegal online casino in violation of the Illinois Criminal Code. 720 ILCS 5/28- 1(a)(12). On January 12, 2026, the IGB observed that you offered Illinois users the ability to play slots, bingo, and table games (“Games”) through both the internet and mobile devices. The Games gave users the opportunity to win cash, gift cards, and other prizes in violation of Illinois law.”
Chumba Casino is one of four brands operated by VGW. LuckyLand Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker also received cease-and-desist letters.
Since the calendar turned to 2026, the sweepstakes casino industry has been targeted by state regulators. California’s ban of dual-currency sweepstakes casinos has been in effect since January 1.
In the several weeks since, Indiana, Maine, Virginia, Maryland, and Florida all introduced legislation related to banning dual currency sweepstakes casinos. Indiana’s attempt continues to move forward as lawmakers voted 87-11 in favor of House Bill 1052. The bill now heads to the Senate for committee assignment.
Louisiana lawmakers are taking an even stronger stance as House Bill 54 would treat certain sweepstakes-style gambling offences as “racketeering activity” under state law.
In Illinois, time will tell if operators comply with the IGB request to block Illinois residents from accessing their internet gambling sites.
