New Advocacy Group Led by VGW Seeks to Fight Back Sweepstake Critics

Facing challenges in the United States, VGW has announced the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), an advocate group, similar to the SPGA, Social and Promotional Games Association.

The advocacy will seek to help the company behind such popular brands as Global Poker, Chumba Casino, and Luckyland Casino to similarly challenge the growing animosity towards the sector and what operators have perceived as baseless accusations of illegal gambling.

Sweepstakes Social Casinos Under Assault – The SGLA Fights Back

Represented by several sweepstakes casino operators such as B-Two Operations, Yellow Social Interactive, ARB Interactive, and PLAYSTUDIOS, the SGLA is looking to push back against overbearing regulation as the sector has been accused of operating “illegal online gambling products” by state regulators and gambling hawks.

The SGLA has insisted, much like the SPGA, that Americans should be allowed to choose, and has similarly argued that there is a clear historic precedent for sweepstakes, and that sweepstakes are used by major companies outside of gaming.

The SGLA has similarly appointed Jeff Duncan, a former US House of Representatives member from South Carolina’s Third Congressional District, as its executive director.

“Social games industry leaders are already investing heavily in financial security, data privacy, responsible social gameplay, and consumer protections. And they are ready and open to sensible regulation that can benefit hard-working constituents in the states where they operate,” Duncan said.

However, the SGLA is drawing clear demarcation lines and does not want its efforts to be taken advantage of by companies who may emulate the sweepstakes but are operating other businesses.

Legal Pushback Intensifies, So Do Efforts to Support

The SGLA stated that it does not cover companies that operate sports products or transact in cryptocurrency, seeking to differentiate itself and set clear standards about who does what. Sweepstakes, argues the group, are not cryptocurrency platforms, nor do they offer sports.

The SGLA also has gone to outline what constitutes the core principles of the sweepstakes social experience, arguing that such operators make sure that their games are always available for free without any purchases necessary.

Much like the SPGA, the SGLA has said that it is committed to responsible social gameplay, protecting players, and using age verifications to ensure compliance with the law and the best possible consumer protections.

In the meantime, Florida, Mississippi, Maryland, and Arkansas have all tried to ban sweepstakes in a rare and sudden shift of public opinion against the sector. So far, these efforts have faltered, but legislators are not done with sweepstakes casinos.

The setup of another association designated to parry this onslaught should be indication enough.