WASHINGTON, DC – The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), a coalition of industry leaders advocating for the online social games industry, urges California lawmakers to uphold freedom of choice for all Californians and reject AB831, which would ban popular, free-to-play entertainment enjoyed by millions in the state and close off a potential revenue stream for the state.
SGLA Executive Director and former Congressman Jeff Duncan said: “Many Californians play online games but this rushed proposal, which subverts proper process, would abruptly cut them off from popular, free-to-play entertainment they love. It was written by those involved in the gambling industry and introduced without providing the online social gaming industry any meaningful opportunity to engage. These parties with clear vested interests want to eliminate any and all perceived competition and are trying to deceive California legislators with a campaign of deliberate misinformation that, if successful, would close off a potential revenue stream for the state.”
SGLA partners maintain comprehensive consumer protection standards, including strict age verification using robust technology to prevent minor access, comprehensive security protocols including anti-money laundering (AML) procedures and ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) frameworks, and responsible gameplay tools including spending limits and self-exclusion options.
“This sweeping prohibition would actually harm California consumers by preventing the very safeguards that protect them,” Duncan continued. “This proposed law would push players toward unscrupulous black-market operators who have no interest in protecting Californians, leaving only those dangerous operators who do not protect minors or vulnerable constituents. This is exactly the opposite of what any responsible lawmaker would want to achieve and proves our point that this legislation cannot be rushed without proper consideration of potential unintended consequences.
“On behalf of our California players who love online games we need to set the record straight – our games are fun, safe, and always free to play,” said Duncan. “Online social games use sweepstakes promotions under the same marketing laws as well-known promotions such as McDonald’s Monopoly, Reader’s Digest sweepstakes, and Pepsi Billion Dollar sweepstakes.
“We urge the California Senate Governmental Organization Committee not to pass a hasty prohibition and instead work with us to develop sensible regulatory frameworks that prioritize consumer protection while offering valuable economic opportunities.”
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.
