The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has issued cease-and-desist letters to more than 60 illegal online casino and sweepstake platforms operating in the state.
In coordination with the Illinois Attorney General’s office, the cease-and-desist orders demand that the online casinos and sweepstakes platforms immediately block Illinois residents from accessing their sites or discontinue offering prizes to Illinois users.
Operators who fail to comply may be subject to civil or criminal penalties under Illinois law.
Among the companies receiving cease-and desist letters are Stake, High 5 Games, Chumba Casino and Global Poker, among others.
“Illegal online gambling operations threaten consumer protections, undermine responsible gaming safeguards, and are antithetical to the public’s interest in regulated gaming,” said Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. “The IGB will continue to evaluate all available regulatory and law enforcement tools to combat illegal gambling and to protect Illinoisans.”
Under Illinois law, legal gambling is only authorised for licensed riverboat casinos, land-based casinos holding an owners’ license, racetracks with organizational gaming licenses, sportsbooks licensed under the Sports Wagering Act, and video gaming licensees licensed under the Video Gaming Act.
“The law is clear: Gambling in Illinois must be properly licensed and regulated,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “Unlicensed gaming operators put Illinois consumers at risk and undermine the integrity of our regulated gaming market. We will continue to work with the Illinois Gaming Board to protect our residents and hold illegal operators accountable.”
The cease-and-desist letters have been sent to:
ACE
American Luck
Cazino
Chanced
Chip n Win
Chumba Casino
Click
Cluck
Crown Coins Casino
Dara Casino
Fliff
Fortune Coins
Fortune Wheelz
FreeSpin
Funrize
FunzCity
Funzpoints
Global Poker
Gold Rush City
Gold Treasure Casino
Golden Hearts Games
GoldSlips
Hello Millions
High 5 Casino
Jackpot Go
Jackpot Rabbit
Jackpota Casino
JefeBet
JuicyPopSlots (Bovada)
Jumbo 88
Kickr
Lavish Luck
Legendz
LoneStar Casino
LuckyLand Slots
LuckySlots.us
McLuck Casino
Mega Bonanza
Modo
Moonspin
No Limit
PlayFrame
Pulsz
Punt
RealPrize
Rolla
RuneWager
Shuffle.us
Sixty6
Smiles Casino
SpinBlitz
Splash Casino
Sportzino
Spree Casino
Stake
StormRush
Sweepshark
SweepsLasVegas.com
Tao Fortune
The Money Factory
ToraTora Casino
WOW Vegas
Yay Casino
Zito Box
Zula Casino