Illinois Cracks Down on 60+ Illegal Online Casinos

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-02-06

It's a major move in the Midwest. Illinois regulators have just drawn a hard line in the sand, ordering more than 60 online casino and sweepstakes companies to shut down their operations across the state. This isn't just a warning shot—it's a full-scale enforcement action. In a coordinated effort, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and the state's Attorney General, Kwame Raoul, sent out over 60 cease-and-desist letters. The message was clear: stop offering your products to Illinois residents, right now. ### The Major Players Targeted The list of companies receiving these letters reads like a who's who of the online social casino and sweepstakes world. Sports betting lawyer Daniel Wallach shared the news on social media, highlighting some of the big names caught in the net. - Stake - Chumba Casino - Fliff - High 5 Casino - Pulsz - VGW (which operates LuckyLand Slots and Chumba) - Sportzino - Modo That's just a handful. The full list extends to over sixty platforms, including sites like LuckyLandSlots.com, Shuffle.us, and Bovada's JuicySpotSlots. If you've seen an ad for an online casino promising big wins, chances are it got a letter.  ### What the Letters Demand So, what does a cease-and-desist letter actually say? It's pretty straightforward, and frankly, uncompromising. The state is demanding these companies immediately block all access for anyone in Illinois. That means no more logging in, no more playing games, and certainly no more claiming prizes. Attorney General Raoul didn't mince words about the consequences for ignoring the order. Companies that don't comply may face "civil or criminal penalties" under Illinois law. It's a serious legal threat, not just a regulatory slap on the wrist. He argued that these unregulated operations put residents at risk and "undermine the integrity of our regulated gaming market." His office pledged to keep working with the IGB to hold these operators accountable. ### Why Illinois is Taking a Stand Marcus D. Fruchter, the Administrator of the IGB, provided the official reasoning. He stated that these illegal online operations are "antithetical to the public’s interest in regulated gaming." Think about it—the state has a system for legal, taxed, and monitored gambling. These offshore sites operate outside of that system entirely. Fruchter warned that the IGB will use every tool at its disposal, both regulatory and law enforcement, to protect people. The core issue is simple: under Illinois law, offering online games of chance for money or items of value is illegal. That covers slots, table games, and online poker on these unlicensed platforms. ### A Spotlight on Sweepstakes Giants The action puts a particularly bright spotlight on the sweepstakes casino model, popularized by companies like Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW). VGW's brands, Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots, were specifically named. This comes on the heels of negative press for VGW, after its CEO resigned following an arrest in Australia. It's a double whammy for the company and a signal that regulators are scrutinizing this entire sector more closely than ever. The days of operating in a gray area might be coming to an end in Illinois. ### What This Means for Players If you're in Illinois and you've been using any of these sites, you need to pay attention. Access will likely be cut off. More importantly, playing on unregulated sites always carries risks—from unclear terms to lack of consumer protections you'd get with a legal, state-licensed operator. The state's message is that it wants to channel gambling activity into its regulated market, where it can ensure fairness, collect taxes, and provide help for those who need it. This crackdown is a forceful step in that direction. It shows that when it comes to online gambling, the rules aren't just suggestions.