New law bans legitimate online games, eliminating jobs and stifling innovation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) has expressed strong disappointment at Governor Phil Murphy’s decision to sign A5447 and S4282 into law and thereby ban legitimate, free-to-play online social games that many thousands of New Jerseyans enjoy, calling it a clear case of government overreach that defies public opinion.
“Lawmakers in New Jersey have completely ignored their own constituents and enacted a ban that voters oppose,” said Jeff Duncan, SGLA Executive Director and former Congressman. “This law is a textbook example of government overreach that strips away entertainment choices from adults who should be free to make decisions about their own entertainment.”
The SGLA will aggressively oppose similar misguided legislation in other states and continue fighting for sensible regulatory frameworks that respect voter preferences, protect consumers, and preserve the fundamental right of adults to choose their own entertainment.
“New Jersey lawmakers have chosen to eliminate jobs, destroy innovation, and take away games that adults play responsibly and enjoy,” Duncan said. “This isn’t about consumer protection – it’s about using political influence to help established gambling interests eliminate perceived competition even though our products are fundamentally different. Online social games use the same promotional structures as countless American businesses, yet New Jersey has decided to prohibit digital game providers from using well established marketing tools while protecting legacy casino operators.”
The draconian New Jersey law doesn’t just attack digital entertainment; it undermines promotional tools that legitimate businesses have used legally for decades. By imposing arbitrary restrictions like $20 purchase caps and banning digital prizes, New Jersey has created a chilling precedent that threatens innovation and economic growth.
“We expect significant unintended consequences from the arbitrary $20 purchase limit, which will impact far more than just social games, it threatens promotional campaigns across industries, from retail to restaurants to digital platforms,” Duncan added. “We hope lawmakers in other states will learn from New Jersey’s overreach and choose sensible, modern regulations that benefit players, communities, and state budgets by creating a safe, taxed, and transparent industry rather than imposing broad restrictions that stifle legitimate business operations.”
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
Partner, Seven Letter
202.258.7810
Laurie@SevenLetter.com
About the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance
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.
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.
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