The SGLA or Social Gaming Leadership Alliance has introduced a new term “Social Plus“. This is to describe the category of freemium social casino games that include sweepstakes elements. The announcement follows the Attorney General of Minnesota labeling numerous sweepstakes platforms as illegal gambling. Google also reclassified these platforms, grouping them with regulated online casinos.
Sean Ostrow, Managing Director of SGLA, described the term “Social Plus” as a simpler and more positive way to categorize social games with sweepstakes promotions. He made the statement in a press release published on November 7.
Ostrow wrote, “Let’s face it, ‘online social games with sweepstakes promotions’ is a mouthful. “Social Plus” gives us a simple term to positively describe online social games with sweepstakes promotions. It is easy to understand and share.
It has been emphasized by Ostrow that the “Plus” represents more than the opportunity to win prizes. It stands for “a higher standard of consumer protection and player safety.” He said that all SGLA member platforms are limited to adults 21 and older. This is in comparison to a lot of others that accept users over 18. The trade group also claims that members implement strict verification, responsible gaming tools, as well as data security safeguards.
The members of SGLA include VGW (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots), Yellow Social Interactive (Pulsz, Pulsz Bingo), ARB Interactive (Modo), and B-Two Operations (McLuck, Jackpota, Hello Millions, Mega Bonanza, SpinBlitz).
The timing of the announcement was noteworthy. It arrived just two days after Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General formally warned a few sweepstakes operators. These include the LuckyLand Slots of VGW, to stop operations, calling them potentially illegal gambling sites that violated slate consumer-protection laws.
SGLA responded by urging the office of the AG to reconsider its mischaracterization of Social Plus games. This follows the approach taken in most regulatory enforcement cases. The trade group claims the games its members offer are lawful, free-to-play social games enjoyed by millions of Americans.
