Illinois announced more than 60 cease-and-desist letters demanding access blocks or an end to prizes for Illinois users of targeted online platforms.
The Illinois Gaming Board announced on February 5, 2026, that it had issued more than 60 cease-and-desist letters in coordination with the state Attorney General's office.
The agency release said the recipients were entities allegedly operating illegal online casino and online sweepstakes platforms in Illinois.
The letters demanded that recipients immediately take one of two steps: block Illinois residents from their websites or stop offering prizes to Illinois users. IGB said failure to comply could expose operators to civil or criminal penalties.
IGB presented the campaign as enforcement under existing Illinois law. The agency's position was that legal gambling is limited to specified licensed channels and that internet sites allowing gambling are prohibited. For Illinois users, the letters sought restrictions on platform access or prize availability rather than announcing a new law.