Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign accepted and subsequently returned a $50,000 contribution from ARB Interactive, the parent company of Modo, an online gambling platform under regulatory scrutiny for allegedly operating illegally in the state.
According to filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections, the donation was received on January 6, 2026, making it one of the largest contributions to Harmon’s Friends of Don Harmon for State Senate fund this year. The contribution followed a brief meeting between Harmon and ARB officials earlier in the winter, during which Modo’s business activities were reportedly not discussed, according to a spokesman for Harmon. The spokesman emphasized that Harmon remains skeptical of widespread slot machine access and has not changed his position on gambling legislation.
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), which regulates casinos, sports betting, and video gambling in Illinois under the oversight of Governor JB Pritzker, issued a cease-and-desist letter to Modo in February. The letter cited evidence that Modo’s platform offered Illinois residents slots and table games, allowing users to win cash, gift cards, and other prizes, activities deemed illegal under Illinois law. The IGB further stated it had not licensed or authorized Modo to conduct online gambling.
Despite the cease-and-desist order, the Modo website remains accessible in Illinois. The IGB noted continuing efforts alongside the Illinois attorney general’s office to address unlicensed gambling operators but declined to provide details about ongoing investigations. A spokesperson said the board is evaluating all available tools to enforce compliance and protect Illinois residents from unregulated gambling.
ARA Interactive has publicly challenged the IGB’s interpretation of the law. A company spokesperson stated that their platform operates within legal boundaries under Illinois statutes and described their political contributions as lawful and fully compliant with campaign finance regulations. The company has sought meetings with the gaming board to resolve the dispute but has not commented on a federal lawsuit filed in California. That suit accuses Modo of predatory practices, including exploiting a user with bipolar disorder by encouraging continued play that resulted in significant financial losses. The plaintiff reportedly sought to limit his participation in the program but was denied by site personnel.
In addition to the $50,000 donation to Harmon’s campaign, an ARB Interactive employee contributed $2,500 on March 10 to the campaign of State Representative Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, another lawmaker involved in gambling legislation. Before 2026, ARB had not made political contributions in Illinois but recently retained lobbying representation through Dan Shomon’s firm.
The ongoing controversy has drawn criticism from advocacy groups such as Stop Predatory Gambling, whose spokesperson Les Bernal characterized online gambling platforms like Modo as highly addictive and harmful, particularly to younger players. Bernal likened political donations from such companies to accepting funds from illicit sources.
Modo’s CEO, Patrick Fechtmeyer, has publicly advocated for regulation rather than prohibition of online sweepstakes-style games, warning that bans might push users toward offshore, unregulated sites. The debate over regulation and enforcement continues as Illinois authorities grapple with the growth of so-called gray-area gambling operations operating outside established licensing frameworks.