Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, known as one of the most important lawmakers in the state, is at the center of a heated discussion regarding an important political contribution that his primary election committee accepted from the parent company of a sweepstakes casino.
Friends of Don Harmon Received $50,000
In January 2026, the committee, called Friends of Don Harmon, received a $50,000 donation from ARB Interactive, which is the parent company of Modo, a sweepstakes platform operator.
The latter is, however, under regulatory scrutiny, which makes the contribution, accounted as one of the most generous received this year, problematic.
According to the committee, the money was received at the end of a brief meeting between Harmon and company representatives. According to information from the State Board of Elections, the check came from ARB’s Miami office under the company’s “2025 Pledge” description.
Harmon, who has been serving as Senate president since January 2020 and was also president pro tempore for eight years before that, also accepted $250,000 from the Sports Betting Alliance a few months later, in March.
The alliance is known for its clear stance in support of online sports betting and gaming.
Gaming Board Issued Cease-and-Desist Against Modo
Not long after the contribution was made, the Illinois Gaming Board issued a cease-and-desist order to Modo, arguing that the website was operating an illegal online casino in violation of Illinois’ Criminal Code.
According to a notice issued in February, regulators established that Modo was providing state residents with online slot machines and table games despite the fact that both the website and the mobile platform were lacking necessary licenses.
Even more, the board explained that the company had not received a license or authorization to offer online casino gambling in Illinois.
As a reminder, earlier in 2026, the Arizona Department of Gaming also deemed Modo as an illegal gambling operation, filing a distinct federal lawsuit in California in which it accused it of using predatory practices.
The allegations remain before the court, with no ruling yet made.
As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, ARB Interactive has rejected Illinois’ position, disagreeing with the Gaming Board’s legal interpretation and submitting its own legal analysis that allegedly shows Modo is operating according to state laws.
Moreover, ARB explained that all political contributions that were either made by or on behalf of the company were done according to current campaign finance laws.
The Money Will Go to Charity
Following the Gaming Board’s ruling and the Chicago Sun-Times report on the ARB contribution, Harmon’s office announced that it would donate the money to a charity organization.
A spokesperson for the senator explained that “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”.
Modo’s website is currently accessible to Illinois players as the regulatory process is ongoing.