The newly formed Social Gaming Leadership Alliance made its first foray into the public relations sphere Thursday night, releasing statements in response to anti-sweepstakes gaming legislation getting passed in two more states.
Both Louisiana and Connecticut passed bills banning online sweeps casinos this week, with both pieces of legislation now heading toward their respective governors for signatures.
These statements come directly from Jeff Duncan, the former South Carolina congressman who’s the executive director of the SGLA.
SGLA says Louisiana bill was ‘rushed through the legislature’ without ‘meaningful opportunity to engage’
Louisiana Senate Bill 181 passed unanimously in both houses — 99-0 in the House, and 38-0 in the Senate. The legislation outlaws “any game, contest, or promotion that is available on the internet or accessible on a mobile phone, computer terminal, or similar access device that utilizes a dual-currency system of payment allowing the player to exchange the currency for any prize or award or cash or cash equivalents, or any chance to win any prize or award or cash or cash equivalents, and simulates any form of gambling shall constitute gambling by computer and shall not be considered a legal sweepstakes.”
“Louisiana residents will be abruptly cut off from popular, free-to-play online games enjoyed by millions nationwide after lawmakers fell for a campaign of deliberate misinformation from parties with clear vested interests that was designed to eliminate legitimate competition,” Duncan said in the SGLA statement. “This legislation was rushed through the legislature without providing the industry any meaningful opportunity to engage, while competitors and critics were given ample voice in a concerted effort that prevented a commonsense solution.”
SB181 was introduced April 14 and passed both chambers less than two months later in early June.
“It’s unfortunate that this legislation was hastily passed based on incomplete information,” Duncan continued, “because the result is that residents lose access to safe, fair and free-to-play entertainment enjoyed by millions of Americans while black market operators laugh all the way to the bank.
“The SGLA is supportive of appropriate oversight and common-sense regulatory frameworks but SB 181 is an attack on economic activity, freedom of choice, innovation and competition. We look forward to engaging with policymakers in Louisiana to right this wrong so that its residents can enjoy the same free-to-play entertainment as other Americans as well as the economic benefits the industry can provide.”
SGLA: Passage of CT bill is ‘a win for the black market’
In Connecticut, Senate Bill 1235 got its approval in the House on Tuesday, officially giving it clearance in both houses. SB1235 is noteworthy in the sense that it also bars lottery couriers, such as Jackpocket and Jackpot.com, from operating in Connecticut.
As a legal iGaming state, Connecticut was already included on many sweeps platform’s excluded territories lists.
“It is disappointing that Connecticut residents have lost access to popular, free-to-play online games enjoyed by millions nationwide,” Duncan said. “It’s unfortunate that this legislation was hastily passed based on incomplete information with little attempt to engage with legitimate industry operators that prioritize player protections.
“The result is a win for the black market, and other groups with vested interests that campaigned for this bill with falsehoods and misinformation. It is a loss for innovation, competition, free choice and potential benefits for the State of Connecticut.”
SB1235 targets sweeps casinos by outlawing any sweepstakes promotion that “allows or facilitates participation in any real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering.”
“The SGLA represents operators, service providers, and players committed to responsible social gaming,” Duncan said, “and we hope Connecticut lawmakers will be willing to work with us in the future to provide their constituents access to these popular games through a robust regulatory framework that prioritizes consumer protection while at the same time offering valuable economic opportunities that could also benefit the state budget.”
Trying to directly address opponents’ claims
The SGLA, which announced itself to the world in late May, consists of some big names in the social and sweeps gaming industry:
- VGW (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Global Poker)
- Yellow Social Interactive (Pulsz, Pulsz Bingo)
- B-Two Operations (McLuck, Hello Millions, Jackpota, Mega Bonanza)
- ARB Interactive (Modo Casino)
- Playstudios (myVEGAS, POP! Slots)
- Nuvei (payment processing company)
In its statement responding to the passage of SB181 in Louisiana, the SGLA attempted to directly address some of sweeps opponents’ main issues with the sweeps industry.
Regarding age verification, the SGLA said its members use “robust” age, identity, and location technology and that “claims that ‘there are no prohibitions against minors playing these games’ are categorically false.”
Regarding any perceived lack of player support and, specifically, issues with players receiving their prize redemptions, the SGLA said: “Our operators follow the same payment security and refund protocols as major retailers.”
Regarding the notion that sweeps gaming is illegal gambling, the SGLA said: “Online social games operate under established sweepstakes law used by countless mainstream brands. These games are legitimate entertainment with mandatory free participation options.”
Checking in on status of sweeps ban bills
So far, three states — Montana, Louisiana, and Connecticut — have passed sweeps ban bills, although so far only Montana’s governor has signed the bill into law. Nevada also passed a bill strengthening enforcement against sweeps operators in the state.
Bills in six states — Arkansas, Maryland, Florida, Mississippi, Illinois, and Texas — failed to pass.
Active bills in New York aren’t expected to pass. (Although the effect of even discussing bills was meaningful, as many sweepstakes platforms, including VGW, have pulled their sweeps operations out of the Big Apple.)
And then bills and New Jersey and Ohio, whose legislative sessions don’t end until Dec. 31, 2025, are worth keeping an eye on.
