Recently, gambling regulations in multiple states in the USA have been quite active, with the regulatory body in Illinois issuing cease and desist letters to over 60 unlicensed online casinos and sweepstakes casinos. Simply put, these unlicensed platforms not only lack regulation but could also leave consumer rights unprotected. Meanwhile, states like South Dakota, Mississippi, and Virginia are also actively advancing legislation related to online sports betting. Although the pace varies from state to state, the trend is becoming increasingly clear.
Illinois takes strong action, unlicensed operations are being rectified
The Illinois Gaming Board and the Attorney General's Office recently joined forces to issue cease and desist letters to several well-known platforms including Chumba Casino, Fliff, among others. Marcus Fruchter, the administrator of the state gaming board, explicitly stated that these illegal operations directly threaten consumer protection measures and undermine the safety net of responsible gambling. It's worth noting that this is not an isolated case—last year, six states across the US explicitly banned such sweepstakes casino operations, and this year, legislative bodies in Indiana and Mississippi are also following similar bans. If you are interested in information about compliant casinos, you can continue to follow updates on the PASA official website, which provides authoritative licensing and regulatory information.
The legislative process for sports betting varies by state
In addition to rectifying illegal operations, several states are also actively promoting the legalization of sports betting:
South Dakota: The Senate Tax Committee passed an online sports betting proposal by a 5 to 3 vote, which will be submitted to a statewide referendum in 2026. Interestingly, data shows that there were 1.6 million attempts to log into sports betting accounts in the state in 2025.
Virginia: Several gambling-related bills are advancing in the legislature, one of which proposes the establishment of a unified gambling regulatory body and promotes the legalization of online casinos, but the bill needs to be passed in both 2026 and 2027 to take effect.
Alaska and Louisiana: The former has a bill proposing to issue 10 sports betting licenses and levy a 20% tax; the latter is considering allowing parishes that have not yet approved sports betting to choose whether to allow related projects through a referendum.
From prohibition to regulation: The diversified trend of gambling regulations
With the development of technology and changes in public attitudes, the regulatory approaches of various states are also gradually adjusting. For example, the Mississippi Senate has already unanimously passed a bill this year to ban sweepstakes casinos, showing legislators' caution against unregulated models. States like Virginia, which are gradually promoting unified regulation and online legalization, tend to prefer developing the market within regulations. Regardless of the stance, a consensus is that compliant, transparent regulation is key to protecting consumers and maintaining market health. The dynamics of the states also remind us that before participating in any form of gambling activity, it is crucial to confirm whether the operator is licensed and regulated.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
