SGLA forms to reshape the future of U.S. sweepstakes 623s4j

Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), the company behind Chumba Casino and Global Poker, has launched the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), a new trade body dedicated to advancing responsible social gaming and promoting appropriate oversight of sweepstakes-based platforms.

Co-founded alongside operators including Playstudios, Yellow Social Interactive (Pulsz), ARB Interactive (Modo Casino), and B-Two Operations (McLuck, Hello Millions), the SGLA also includes payments giant Nuvei among its founding . Former U.S. Congressman Jeff Duncan will serve as the alliance’s executive director.

In a public statement, Duncan stated;

The SGLA’s partners are uniquely positioned to work with lawmakers, stakeholders and players to innovation in digital games and ensure millions of Americans have the freedom to enjoy the games they love in a safe environment.

A response to a growing regulatory push 3x2v4y

The SGLA’s formation comes at a critical moment for the U.S. social gaming industry, which has come under mounting legal and legislative scrutiny. 

Regulators and lawmakers in states such as New York, Florida, and New Jersey are currently weighing or advancing restrictions on sweepstakes models that use dual-currency systems.

In particular, New Jersey lawmakers are pushing forward a bill that aims to effectively ban sweepstakes casinos in the state.

Though VGW and its peers continue to operate legally in most states, cease-and-desist letters and class action lawsuits have forced the industry to rethink its approach. 

VGW has already exited certain markets, including Nevada and Washington, in response to local enforcement.

The SPGA and common ground k2c3

The SGLA is now the second advocacy group representing the sweepstakes and social casino industry in the U.S., ing the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), formed in 2024. 

Notably, the two associations do not share , which has raised speculation about strategic differences between the two camps.

However, both organizations have emphasized common ground.

Speaking on the launch of this new alliance, a SGPA spokesperson said;

While the SPGA and SGLA serve different constituencies within the broader sweepstakes and social gaming landscape, we share common values: player protection, innovation, and responsible access to lawful games.

What are SGLA’s core principles 51v4e

According to its website and founding documents, the SGLA is built on four key pillars:

• Free-to-Play Access: Reinforcing that no purchase is ever required to play.

• Responsible Social Gameplay: Offering tools and protocols to player wellbeing.

• Player and Platform Protection: Investing in financial crime prevention, data security, and fraud safeguards.

• Age-Restricted Access: Enforcing robust ID verification to keep minors off casino-themed platforms.

VGW CEO Laurence Escalante emphasized the importance of these principles in light of growing public and political scrutiny.

We recognize the rising interest in our sector and our responsibility to ensure the facts about our games, operations and standards are understood,” Escalante said. “Now, we’re excited to establish this alliance to take our leadership further and shape the future of our industry.

What will this do for the regulatory narrative? 1d633n

With an estimated 55 million Americans participating in sweepstakes and social casino games, the stakes have never been higher. 

Unlike traditional lobbying efforts, the SGLA appears focused on preemptive collaboration, positioning itself not as a defiant industry shield but as a pro-regulation voice that s oversight grounded in consumer protection and innovation.

Whether this strategy will sway regulators in skeptical jurisdictions like New York and New Jersey remains to be seen. 

However, with two trade groups now publicly advocating for the legitimacy and safety of the social gaming model, the industry is clearly entering a new phase of political engagement.