The departures, June 26 -- For players who spent months accumulating virtual currency balances on platforms like McLuck, Hello Millions, or High 5 Casino, the notices that arrived this week carried the same message: access from Indiana or Iowa would end July 1. The platforms are leaving, not out of business failure, but because new state laws taking effect in five days carry civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation for operators that do not comply.

the legislature's SF 2289, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on May 15, gives the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission power to issue cease-and-desist orders and seek injunctive relief against unlicensed operators beginning July 1. Neither state is waiting to see how operators respond.

The ...