Illinois Unleashes Cease-and-Desist Barrage on Sweepstakes Casinos
Illinois’ Attorney General and the state’s Gaming Board has issued 60 cease-and-desist letters to companies operating online sweepstakes casinos, with Jefebet, State.us, and Pulsz topping the list
Illinois is taking its campaign against sweepstakes casinos to another level after its Gaming Board and Attorney General issued over 60 cease-and-desist letters to operators of the popular gaming platforms. In a LinkedIn post, Atty. Daniel Wallach reported that the order was immediate: operators must block Illinois residents from accessing their platforms or stop offering prizes. Stake.us, Sixty 6, and Chumba Casino are just some of the big names that were affected by the latest regulatory action.
There have been over 200 letters issued to operators since the beginning of last year, covering around 15 states, and no single lawsuit has been filed yet challenging these letters.
Illinois Sets the Record Straight- Gambling Must Be Properly Licensed and Regulated
The Prairie State is one of the more active states pursuing the regulation of sweepstakes casinos. It consistently warns locals about the dangers of illegal and unregulated gambling platforms, specifically sweepstakes casinos that operate like legal slot machines and casino games. In June 2025, it issued another notice targeting these popular platforms.
Last February 5th, Illinois, through the Gaming Board and the office of the Attorney General, stepped up its campaign by issuing 60+ cease-and-desist letters to sites allegedly operating illegal online sweepstakes and casinos.
The letter orders all respondents to block locals from accessing these sites or stop offering prizes. Failure to do so could result in civil and criminal penalties, as these games and sites violate the state’s criminal law.
State Authorities Call on Players to Avoid Unlicensed Sites
According to Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter, illegal gaming operations put players at risk, undermine responsible gaming safeguards, and counter public interest in regulated gaming. Mr. Fruchter added that the IGB will continue to explore all regulatory and enforcement tools to address illegal gambling and protect players.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul echoed the gaming board’s sentiments, saying that gambling must be licensed and regulated. Allowing unlicensed gaming operators to operate puts players at risk and undermines the integrity of the gaming market, added Raoul.
The IGB, together with other state authorities, encourage local players to avoid unlicensed and unregulated gaming sites. Instead, players must first check the site's list of licensed and approved casinos and sportsbooks.
Under state laws, legal gambling only covers licensed riverboat casinos, land-based casinos with owners’ licenses, racetracks with gaming licenses, sportsbooks approved under the Sports Wagering Act, and video gaming licenses regulated under the Video Gaming Act.
No sweepstakes casino operator has responded or issued a formal statement as of this writing.
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Stakester connects sweepstakes players who want to put their hard-earned skills to the ultimate test – by playing their favorite games for money and prizes.