WASHINGTON, DC – The Kletsel Economic Development Authority (KEDA) – the economic development arm of the California tribe Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation – has released a letter urging lawmakers to reject AB831. The bill would ban legitimate online social games from using sweepstakes promotions despite new economic impact analysis showing the industry already contributes more than $1 billion to the California economy each year.
According to KEDA, the bill would also eliminate economic development opportunities for smaller, less-advantaged tribes who could benefit from partnerships with gaming platforms, thereby deepening disparities between large, well-established gaming tribes and more geographically isolated tribes that are urgently seeking to fund essential services like healthcare, education, housing, food security, and social programs for their people.
KEDA’s partnership with SGLA partner VGW underscores that California tribal nations are not unanimous in their support of this legislation. KEDA opposes AB831 because the ‘gut and amend’ bill lacks broad tribal consensus, has advanced without meaningful consultation with many tribes, and threatens the inherent right to create legitimate revenue streams to support tribal communities.
“The SGLA is proud to stand with the Kletsel Economic Development Authority to urge the lawmakers to reject AB831 and instead support policies that foster economic opportunity, respect tribal sovereignty, and preserve access to popular forms of digital entertainment for all Californians,” said SGLA Executive Director Jeff Duncan. “Social games give millions of Californians access to a community and network that brings people together and gives everyone the chance to experience premium games for free – regardless of budget or location. They have the potential to expand opportunities for tribal nations.”
Eric Wright, Chief Executive Officer of Kletsel Economic Development Authority, said: “For tribes like ours, geography has always limited traditional economic development. It is self-serving for large, well-established gaming tribes to advocate for policies that restrict emerging digital commerce opportunities for others, effectively holding smaller and less-advantaged tribes hostage to their location. Eliminating lawful, regulated digital opportunities will deepen existing disparities, reduce self-sufficiency, and undermine California’s commitment to economic justice for all tribes.”
Online social games with sweepstakes promotions are mainstream digital entertainment that have been delivering free-to-play interactive board, card, and casino-style games to millions of Californians for more than a decade. These platforms employ strict age verification and comprehensive consumer protections to provide a well-established, popular form of free, safe, and fun entertainment enjoyed by millions of Americans nationwide.
Together, SGLA and KEDA urge California lawmakers to reject AB831’s sweeping restrictions that would deny tribes like Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation the ability to explore innovative revenue streams and would criminalize legitimate digital entertainment enjoyed by more than two million Californians. Instead, lawmakers should support policies that foster economic opportunity, respect tribal opportunity, and preserve access to popular forms of digital entertainment for all Californians.
To learn more about SGLA, please visit our website at www.SGLeadership.org and our social channels at LinkedIn, X, Facebook and BlueSky.
Contact
Laurie Rossbach
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Laurie@SevenLetter.com
About the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance
The SGLA’s operator partners are VGW, PLAYSTUDIOS, Yellow Social Interactive, ARB Interactive and B-Two Operations, representing Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, Global Poker, Pulsz, Pulsz Bingo, Modo Casino, McLuck, HelloMillions and SpinBlitz. Other partners include major payments provider Nuvei. The SGLA’s advocacy and standards focus exclusively on online social games. Our advocacy does not extend to operators offering sports products or transacting in cryptocurrency.
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) champions social gaming operators who offer innovative, free-to-play entertainment experiences enjoyed by millions of Americans while promoting responsible digital entertainment. Our partners set the standard for innovation, world class games and the responsible use of digital marketing including sweepstakes promotions. We advocate for appropriate oversight that recognizes the unique entertainment value of social online games, protects players, platforms and the community, and promotes responsible gameplay.
