Bad news for slots fans in Illinois – Hacksaw Gaming appears to have pulled its popular catalog from sweepstakes casinos in the Prairie State.
We’ve seen multiple user reports to this effect, and have also verified that Hacksaw slots at sweepstakes casinos like Stake.us, Legendz, Sweeper, and Casino.click are now unavailable in IL.
The withdrawal seems to have been implemented via a geoblock from the operator itself, as titles are often available in sweeps lobbies, but if players try to load the game, they’ll likely be met with a message saying “This game is not available in your region“.
Malta-based Hacksaw Gaming is responsible for some of the very biggest slots in recent years, including Le Bandit, Wanted Dead Or a Wild, and Chaos Crew.
Hacksaw also works with smaller studios like Bullshark Games and Backseat Gaming via its OpenRGS system, providing a backend engine and distribution network to make launching games easy. Unsurprisingly, it seems that any studio using the OpenRGS system has also been blocked in Illinois.
Why Has Hacksaw Left Illinois?
It’s hard to say exactly why Hacksaw may have left IL, but if we look at what else has been happening in this state lately, the picture becomes a little clearer.
Last month, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) issued cease-and-desist letters to over 60 operators it deems “illegal online casino and online sweepstakes gaming platforms,” targeting essentially all major sweeps brands, including Stake.us, WOW Vegas, and Chumba.
So far, we haven’t seen a significant wave of withdrawals from Illinois following these letters, but it seems likely they played a role in Hacksaw’s decision.
At the time, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said:
“Unlicensed gaming operators put Illinois consumers at risk and undermine the integrity of our regulated gaming market. We will continue to work with the Illinois Gaming Board to protect our residents and hold illegal operators accountable.”
There may also have been other behind-the-scenes moves that have not yet come to light.
Evolution Also Unavailable in Illinois
In fact, Hacksaw is not the first provider to withdraw from Illinois this year. In January, another popular supplier in the form of Evolution also pulled its games. And Evolution, like Hacksaw, is responsible for multiple brands, including NetEnt, Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming, and Nolimit City.
On a Q3 earnings call last year, Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund brought up the company’s policy in clear terms:
“Sweepstakes is a popular product in the US, and we offer it in states where it’s not prohibited or in any way under regulatory scrutiny…If any regulator or authority would send a letter…stating ‘don’t do it here,’ we would immediately go away.”
Incidentally, two companion bills related to iGaming are on the books in the Illinois legislature this session. House Bill 4797 and Senate Bill 3723 both have the goal of legalizing online casino gaming – which is currently illegal in the state – although neither has yet advanced out of committee, and past versions of the proposal have repeatedly stalled in committee in previous sessions.
Sweepstakes casinos still operate in a legal gray area with their dual-currency format, but with Pragmatic Play exiting the vertical entirely – and Evolution and Hacksaw now gone from Illinois – players in the Prairie State are left without three of the most popular slots providers and will need to turn to other suppliers for exciting sweepstakes titles.
Yes, game providers pulling out of states seems to be part of a growing trend – one we highlighted recently in our article, The Real Reason Sweepstakes Casinos Are Focusing on Original Releases. Stay tuned for more updates as we get them.
Author: Alex Windsor
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