With so many changes elsewhere in the United States, it is a good idea for players to seek an update on sweepstakes casinos in Illinois. The question is whether residents can still play Sweeps Coins in the Land of Lincoln.
The short answer is yes. It remains legal to play at a social casino in Illinois, even though state officials have been active in trying to shut down such gaming in recent months.
With that in mind, here is an update on the legal status of Sweeps Coins in Illinois.
On February 5, 2026, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) sent 65 cease-and-desist orders to sweepstakes casino sites. Some of the operators exited the Illinois market, though most remain active.
The letter sent by Raoul and the IGB cited the Illinois Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5/28-1(a)(12)). In their interpretation, sweepstakes casinos are considered illegal online casinos under the existing Illinois statutes.
Online sweepstakes game operators that continue to accept Illinois players interpret the law differently. Because dual-currency sweepstakes gaming is not cited in Illinois law, they argue their gaming is not banned.
A new law could put the debate to an end.
A proposed bill (SB1705) would classify sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling devices in Illinois. If passed, the penalty for operating a sweepstakes casino would be a Class 4 felony.
Violators could be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison and fined $1,000 for each violation of the law. At present, the draft legislation is stalled, much like a similar bill in Minnesota.
Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham introduced Senate Bill 1705 in 2025. The bill passed the committee but did not receive a vote before the legislative session ended in May 2026.
For a floor vote to happen, the bill will need to pass the committee again in 2027.
In Illinois, a Class 4 felony has a base sentence of 1 to 3 years in state prison. If the case has aggravating factors involved — such as a prior felony conviction — the judge can impose an extended term of 3 to 6 years.
The fines can go up to $25,000 per offense, though they are $1,000 in this case. Other standard penalties could include probation up to 30 months. First offender probation or special diversion programs are possible, depending on the nature of the crime. Such decisions would involve the individual judge.
The key provision in the new law redefines the meaning of a gambling device. Under the new proposed law, a “gambling device” would be defined as, “any clock, tape machine, slot machine, or other machines or device for the reception of money or other thing of value on chance or skill or upon the action of which money or other thing of value is staked, hazarded, bet, won, or lost.”
A later clause states that an electronic machine or device “including, without limitation,” devices that allow the removal of credits that offer a player “entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process” for a game of chance.
These passages stipulated sweepstakes casinos in a new way, though they failed to gain traction this year.
In February, operators such as Smiles Casino, WOW Vegas, Rolla Casino, Carnival Citi, Rolling Riches, and Spin Saga exited the Illinois sweepstakes niche. In April, Stake.us, JefeBet, and Jumbo88 followed suit.
Several top operators that received cease-and-desist letters remain active. The list includes High 5 Casino, Pulsz, LuckyLand Slots, Chumba Casino, Modo, Fliff, and Legendz.
Several prominent sweepstakes casino sites did not receive cease-and-desist letters, including RealPrize, McLuck sweepstakes casino, and Crown Coins. Those sites continue to accept players in Illinois.
The cease-and-desist letters are not court orders. Instead, they are demands from top-ranking Illinois officials. Reasonable parties can interpret the law differently.
Had the IGB issued court-mandated orders, all of those informed would have left the Illinois market. Those still active are waiting until the law clearly states they must leave.
The sweepstakes casino issue could change in 2027. On July 2, The Chicago Sun-Times reported that ARB Interactive (owner of Modo) contributed to the reelection campaign of Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.
In January 2026, ARB Interactive contributed $50,000 to Friends of Don Harmon for State Senate. The contribution ranked among the largest to the political action committee for Harmon’s reelection campaign.
A spokesman for Sen. President Harmon told the newspaper that the senator met with representatives for about 15 minutes this past winter, but Modo was not discussed.
The spokesman added, “Senate President Harmon has long been among the most skeptical voices in Springfield as to the wisdom of putting a slot machine in every Illinoisan’s pocket, and he remains so today.”
Longtime players who reside in or visit Illinois should check the status of their sweepstakes casino sites in the state. Consider bookmarking the site’s social media pages for announcements and updates.
If that does not help, a quick visit to the site’s terms and conditions page should tell whether the casino supports play from Illinois.
Meanwhile, players concerned about sudden actions should keep their Sweeps Coins account in a manageable state. Accumulated rewards might become inaccessible if new laws are passed.
Players should know that the window for action in 2026 has passed. The next time a bill might pass the Illinois legislature is in 2027, when the process starts over with a new set of lawmakers.
