Illinois Sweepstakes Crackdown Sees Just 3% Compliance in First Two Weeks After 65 C&D Letters
Illinois’ sweepstakes casino enforcement campaign is producing limited early compliance: only 2 of 65 platforms — roughly 3% — complied within two weeks of the orders being issued.
Earlier this month, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) issued 65 cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes casino operators, ordering them to stop serving Illinois residents. So far, only two have updated their terms to restrict Illinois players, while the remainder continue operating in the state.
The early compliance rate underscores a broader national pattern: cease-and-desist campaigns often generate uneven results without accompanying legislative action.
Only Two Platforms Have Complied
Of the 65 platforms named in the IGB’s enforcement action, Gambling Insider has confirmed that only Jumbo 88 and JefeBet list Illinois as a restricted territory.
Additionally, Rolling Riches‘ most recent terms update now includes Illinois in its ineligible states, despite not appearing on the enforcement list.
While the IGB warned that failure to comply could subject operators to civil or criminal penalties under Illinois law, most platforms have not yet exited the market.
Operators that have received enforcement orders include those operating well-known platforms like Chumba, LuckyLand Slots, Stake.us, Modo, WOW Vegas, Fortune Coins, and McLuck.
Mixed Results of C&D Orders Nationwide
Illinois’ early results reflect a broader national trend: cease-and-desist orders alone do not always prompt immediate market withdrawal.
Some states, such as Tennessee and West Virginia, have had relative success, with over 40 platforms exiting after receiving cease-and-desist orders.
Meanwhile, others, such as Maryland, have had limited success. In a testimony on a ban bill last month, the Maryland gaming regulator said that it had sent 75 orders, with only a third of operators complying.
Sometimes sweepstakes casinos exit a state after multiple enforcement efforts. For example, VGW exited Delaware after a second cease-and-desist letter in 2025, two years after the first. Meanwhile, Stake.us exited Maryland after a second order.
In neighboring Indiana, during a January hearing on HB 1052, representatives from the Indiana Gaming Commission testified that sweepstakes casinos may not currently violate Indiana law, highlighting regulatory gray areas and strengthening arguments for explicit statutory prohibitions.
No Ban Bill in 2026, But a 2025 Proposal Is Technically Alive
Sweepstakes casinos are increasingly becoming a focus point nationwide, with about a dozen states introducing bills to either explicitly prohibit them or tighten statutes to give regulators more tools to target them through enforcement.
Illinois has not introduced a new standalone sweepstakes prohibition bill in 2026, and the deadline for bill introductions was on Feb. 6. However, there’s a 2025 bill, SB 1705, that is technically alive, as Illinois operates on a two-year legislative cycle.
SB 1705 seeks to amend state gambling law by expanding the definition of illegal gambling devices and strengthening enforcement tools. The bill was referred to committee in 2025 and did not advance further that year. That makes SB1705 a carryover bill that is technically still alive, as it was not voted down.
Lawmakers could choose to revive it during the 2026 session, though it would need to advance out of committee by March 17 to remain viable.
With just 3% of targeted operators complying so far, Illinois’ approach may test whether administrative enforcement alone can materially reduce sweepstakes activity — or whether lawmakers will need to codify an explicit prohibition.
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