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The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) publicly responded to the cease-and-desist orders issued by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).
The regulator targeted several parties operating in the state, calling their activities illegal and putting bettors at risk because they are not officially licensed to operate there.
Now SGLA’s spokesperson, Managing Director Sean Ostrow, has fired back at the watchdog as part of a public statement on the letters.
SGLA’s Sean Ostrow returns to the Illinois Gaming Board
ReadWrite reviewed Ostrow’s statement, a direct contradiction of seven pages of letters PUBLISHED by the Illinois Gaming Board on February 5, 2026.
“Our operators implement strong age verification, responsible social gaming tools, and comprehensive safeguards in Social Plus games, which set us apart from unregulated, illegal gambling sites,” said the SGLA post.
This is a direct response to the IGB saying that there have been “more than 60 cease-and-desist letters” issued to operators who run “illegal online casino and/or online sweepstakes gaming platforms in Illinois.”
The SGLA says there is a misunderstanding of gambling terminology
The original letters and statement from the IGB emphasized that their enforcement was targeting “the operation of illegal online casino and/or online sweepstakes gaming platforms in Illinois.”
Ostrow believes the decision to add illegal gambling operators with a statement surrounding “Social Plus” games is a mistake.
“The fact that responsible Social Plus gaming operators are being discussed alongside illegal offshore gambling websites indicates a fundamental misunderstanding by the Illinois Gaming Board of the nature of our industry and the true consumer protections implemented by SGLA operator partners,” Ostrow said.
Stake and VGW are two of the biggest names mentioned in the cease and desist letters reported by ReadWrite.
SGLA offers an olive branch
In closing, Ostrow did not rule out the IGB and the SGLA working together to maintain a better understanding of these types of games in the eyes of the regulator.
“SGLA welcomes the opportunity to work closely with Illinois regulators, the Attorney General and lawmakers to ensure that our industry continues to provide legal, safe entertainment for adults while maintaining the highest standards of consumer protection,” he concluded.
It remains to be seen if the IGB will take the opportunity, as many states, includingNew York,VirginiaandTennesseehas begun the process of running the sweepstakes outside ofbetting limitsin 2026.
Featured image: SGLA
The post SGLA is suing the Illinois Gaming Board over cease and desist orders first appeared in ReadWrite.
