Illinois gambling regulators have determined that a website called Modo is running an unlicensed online sweepstakes casino in the state, a violation of Illinois criminal law. At the same time, a state lawmaker is now accused of receiving campaign contributions from the company.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois regulators say Modo offered unlicensed casino games to state users, violating criminal gambling law.
- ARB Interactive gave $50,000 to a campaign fund tied to Senate President Don Harmon.
Modo's parent company, ARB Interactive, gave $50,000 this year to a campaign fund tied to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, one of the largest donations his fund received in 2026. State election records show the contribution landed on Jan. 6, shortly after Harmon met briefly with ARB representatives over the winter.
Following questions about the donation, the campaign said it would redirect an equal sum to local charities, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Illinois Gaming Board sent Modo a formal warning in February, stating that the company had been observed offering slot and table games to Illinois users through its website and mobile platform, an activity the board says violates state gambling law. A separate contribution from an ARB employee also went to state Rep. Bob Rita, a legislator who has played a central role in gambling policy discussions.
ARB had made no political contributions in Illinois before this year and has since retained a Springfield lobbying firm. Modo appears to also still be available to Illinoisians despite being sent a cease-and-desist earlier in the year.
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Illinois widens crackdown on unlicensed gambling sites
Modo is far from the only platform drawing this kind of attention from Illinois authorities. The Illinois Gaming Board, working alongside the state attorney general's office, sent cease-and-desist notices in February to more than 60 companies suspected of running unlicensed online casino games or sweepstakes-style platforms within the state, including Modo.
Under Illinois law, legal gambling is restricted to licensed riverboat and land-based casinos, approved racetracks, sportsbooks, and video gaming terminals, so any site offering chance-based games for prizes without that authorization is considered a violation of state criminal statutes.
The notices instruct recipients to either cut off access for Illinois residents or stop awarding prizes to players in the state altogether. Companies that ignore the warnings could face civil or criminal consequences.
Among the operators named are Stake.us, Chumba Casino, and Global Poker, both owned by VGW, along with brands such as Fliff, McLuck Casino, WOW Vegas, and LuckyLand Slots. Several of these sweepstakes-style casinos have already withdrawn from more than a dozen states over the past year as legal uncertainty around their business model has spread nationwide.
The enforcement push follows Illinois' recent move to add a per-wager tax on legal online sports betting, a change some in the industry worry could push more bettors toward unregulated alternatives.
