Illinois Gaming Board Slams Door on Sweeps Casinos: "Not Welcome Here"

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has spoken—sweepstakes casinos operate illegally, and they’re not welcome in the state. In a statement, the Board reiterated its commitment to regulated gambling and the protection of its consumers. A part of its official email reads: “Unlicensed sweepstakes operators and other forms of illegal gambling”, have no place in the state”. 

It added that they’re working to maintain the integrity of the state’s gambling, and looking exhaust all available regulatory and enforcement tools to protect players.

Unboxing the Key Points from the Recent IGB Statement

IGB's recent statement reflects sweepstakes casinos' current legal status and future outlook. A closer look reveals these key points:

• IGB reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the safety and integrity of gambling in the state.

• The Board clarified that unlicensed sweep operators and other illegal gambling platforms aren’t welcome.

• IGB plans to use all law enforcement measures to address unauthorized sweepstakes casino games.

What This Means for Sweepstakes Casino Operators

Even before this statement, sweepstakes casino operators in Illinois faced heavy scrutiny. Two important stakeholders, Tora Tora Casino and Evolution Gaming, have exited the state at the beginning of the year. 

Tora Tora Casino emailed its players saying that it will close its platform effective January 10th, citing regulatory concerns. Evolution Gaming, a popular provider of live dealer games on many sweepstakes casinos, have removed its titles in some Illinois-facing sites, including Modo.us and Spinquest Casino.

Interestingly, there’s no formal ban yet in Illinois. Unlike New York and California, no state statute bans sweepstakes casinos operating using the dual-currency model.

However, there are legislative efforts towards this end, including Senate Bill 1705, which aims to expand the definition of gambling devices to include “digital sweepstakes systems, making their operations potentially illegal.

There were earlier proposals too, such as HB 2879, which explicitly banned retail and online sweepstakes games.

REFERENCES

• Senate Bill 1705

• HB 2879