Gaming Trade Association Established to Fend Off Assault on Progressing Sector
In a recent development, the Social & Promotional Games Association (SPGA) has voiced its opposition to legislative efforts, such as California's AB 831, that aim to ban or heavily restrict social sweepstakes casinos in the United States. The SPGA argues that these casinos are legal when they comply with consumer protection and anti-gambling laws, and that bills like AB 831 contain broad and vague language that creates legal uncertainty and risks unintended consequences for lawful sweepstakes and promotional marketing practices.
The SPGA is part of a broad coalition, including the ACLU, Association of National Advertisers, and others, that contends these bills could criminalize routine promotions and sweepstakes that are not illegal gambling, unfairly impose stringent and impractical regulations, lack clear consumer protections but threaten lawful business models, and potentially undermine free speech and legitimate marketing tools used by many businesses.
The SPGA takes pride in collaborating with civil liberties advocates and industry groups to oppose such legislation and to advocate for regulatory clarity that preserves lawful sweepstakes operations. The organisation opposes blanket bans on social sweepstakes casinos that follow legal sweepstakes models rather than traditional gambling or betting schemes.
Proponents of social and sweepstakes casinos claim they provide entertainment in a safe, no-risk environment. The SPGA compares its members' business models to how major retailers use online sweepstakes promotions. Over two-thirds of customers at a typical SPGA member site are free-to-play only, and the majority of social sweeps customers never spend money.
Social gaming businesses generate revenue by selling additional tokens after a player's initial and ongoing daily or weekly allotments of free plays run dry. U.S. consumers have spent over $40 billion playing social casino games over the last decade.
The SPGA consists of various social sweeps entities such as 10 Ten Gaming, Blazesoft, Fliff, FSG Digital, Gold Coin Group, High 5 Entertainment, KHK Games, Kickr Games, Octacom, Rolling Riches, and Woopla Gaming. The organisation has pledged to adhere to best practices in advertising, fair play, and consumer protection.
Social gaming has been around for years, with users playing free-to-play online slots and table games where no actual money could be won. However, a newer concept in social gaming involves sweepstakes, where new accounts are given free credits to play.
The SPGA members have committed to limiting real-money play to players 18 and older and utilizing regulation-grade technology to verify player identities. The US gaming industry is currently focusing on "sweeps," "sweepstakes," and "social gaming."
In recent years, some states have declared social sweepstakes casinos to constitute illegal gambling and have sent cease and desist letters to operators. Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, and Washington, D.C. are among the states that have taken action against social sweepstakes casinos.
A new trade group called the Social & Promotional Games Association (SPGA) has been formed to dispel negative claims about social casinos. The article was posted on December 13, 2024, at 09:55h, and was last updated on June 23, 2025, at 08:06h. Opponents argue that many such businesses are operating illegal gambling, but the SPGA maintains that its members follow legal sweepstakes models.
- The Social & Promotional Games Association (SPGA) opposes legislative efforts like California's AB 831, claiming these bills could unjustly criminalize legal sweepstakes and promotional marketing practices.
- The SPGA argues that social sweepstakes casinos are legal when they comply with consumer protection and anti-gambling laws, and that bills such as AB 831 are broad and vague, causing legal uncertainty.
- The SPGA, along with groups like the ACLU and Association of National Advertisers, contends that these bills could potentially undermine free speech and legitimate marketing tools used by businesses.
- Proponents of social and sweepstakes casinos claim they provide entertainment in a safe, no-risk environment, similar to how major retailers use online sweepstakes promotions.
- The SPGA consists of various social sweepstakes entities such as 10 Ten Gaming, Blazesoft, Fliff, FSG Digital, Gold Coin Group, High 5 Entertainment, KHK Games, Kickr Games, Octacom, Rolling Riches, and Woopla Gaming, all of which have pledged to adhere to best practices in advertising, fair play, and consumer protection.
