WASHINGTON, DC – The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) testified before the Virginia Senate General Laws and Technology Gaming Subcommittee on Senate Bill 118 (SB 118). The SGLA urged lawmakers to reconsider provisions of the bill that would require Social Plus operators to obtain an iGaming license to continue operating in Virginia, which would leave more than 300,000 Virginians without access to the Social Plus games they love.
“Forcing the square peg of sweepstakes games into the round hole of iGaming regulation will mean many longstanding, responsible Social Plus companies will be unable to continue to operate in Virginia,” said Sean Ostrow, Managing Director of the SGLA.
Social Plus platforms in Virginia and across the country deliver interactive board, card and casino-style games that are always free-to-play and restricted to players over the age of 21. SGLA partner operators ensure that all Social Plus games are equipped with robust consumer protections, including age and identity verification, responsible social gameplay tools, geolocation, and secure handling of consumer data.
Instead of moving forward with SB 118 as written, the SGLA urged the Virginia General Assembly to study this issue and consider a parallel regulatory framework for Social Plus games that will protect consumers and generate new revenue for the Commonwealth. Proper regulation could generate more than $27 million in new revenue for Virginia through player purchase taxes and operator registration fees.
To learn more about SGLA, please visit our website at www.SGLeadership.org and our social channels at LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.
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 Plus 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 Social Plus games. Our advocacy does not extend to operators offering sports products or transacting in cryptocurrency.
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