Illinois Gaming Board issues 65 new gaming cease-and-desists

Summary

The Illinois Gaming Board issued 65 cease-and-desist orders on 5 February 2026 targeting online casino and sweepstakes operators it says are offering games of chance without a state licence. The orders—issued after coordination with the Illinois Attorney General—demand operators immediately block Illinois residents and stop awarding prizes to users inside the state.

Named platforms include VGW Holdings (owner of Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots) alongside Global Poker, Stake.us, Pulsz, Modo, Fliff, Funrize and Fortune Coins. Regulators say these services use virtual currency or sweepstakes models to circumvent Illinois’ gambling laws and that non-compliance could bring civil or criminal penalties. The action continues a wider enforcement trend seen in Illinois and other states over unlicensed social and sweepstakes gaming.

Key Points

Illinois issued 65 cease-and-desist orders on 5 February 2026 to unlicensed online gaming operators.
Orders require companies to block Illinois residents and stop offering prizes to users within the state immediately.
Prominent named platforms include VGW Holdings (Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots), Global Poker, Stake.us, Pulsz, Modo, Fliff, Funrize and Fortune Coins.
The Board says these operators run games of chance via virtual-currency/sweepstakes mechanisms without an Illinois licence, breaching the Illinois Criminal Code.
Failure to comply may trigger civil or criminal penalties and potential litigation pursued by state authorities.
This enforcement builds on prior actions (including a February 2025 round) and mirrors crackdowns in other states such as Michigan and Connecticut.
Illinois stresses legal gambling is restricted to licensed land-based casinos and authorised sportsbooks to protect consumer safeguards and tax revenue.

Why should I read this?

Short version: if you work in iGaming, payments, affiliates or compliance, this is a big deal. Regulators are stepping up and targeting sweepstakes/social casino models that many operators thought were safe. Read this so you know if your partners or products could be next—no drama, just the facts you need to check your exposure.

Context and relevance

Illinois’ action underscores a broader regulatory push against unlicensed sweepstakes and social casinos that use virtual currency to award cash or gift cards. The state is protecting licensed operators’ tax revenue and consumer protections, and it has made clear it will use civil and criminal tools to enforce the law. For industry players, the ruling increases legal risk for unlicensed products, heightens scrutiny on affiliate and payments chains, and signals likely continued enforcement nationwide.