All posts tagged: SGLA

Maryland session ends leaving sweepstakes gaming bills stalled once again as SGLA celebrates

Maryland session ends leaving sweepstakes gaming bills stalled once again as SGLA celebrates

Published by skeptic

Maryland wrapped up its 2026 legislative session without approving two bills targeting sweepstakes-style gaming, keeping a familiar fight unresolved for at least another year. The measures, HB 295 and HB 1226, both cleared the House of Delegates. Neither one made it through the Senate before lawmakers adjourned on April 13, which ended their chances this session. The split mirrors what happened in 2025, when a Senate-backed ban proposal stalled once it reached the House. The result was quickly celebrated by the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, which represents companies in the sector and argues its members operate legally while providing consumer safeguards. In a statement sent to ReadWrite after the session ended, Managing Director Sean Ostrow said the group spent months pressing that case with lawmakers. “We are pleased with this result in Maryland and want to thank the Maryland lawmakers who took the time to thoroughly consider this issue.  “Over multiple hearings and dozens of meetings, SGLA addressed false allegations by casino interests by demonstrating that the Social Plus industry already offers strong consumer protections …

SGLA fires back at Illinois Gaming Board over cease-and-desist letters orders

SGLA fires back at Illinois Gaming Board over cease-and-desist letters orders

Published by skeptic

The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) has publicly responded to the cease-and-desist orders issued by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).  The regulator had taken aim at multiple parties operating in the state, calling their activities illegal and putting bettors at risk because they were not officially licensed to operate there.  Now the SGLA spokesperson, Managing Director Sean Ostrow, has fired back at the watchdog as part of a public statement on the letters.  SGLA’s Sean Ostrow fires back at Illinois Gaming Board ReadWrite reviewed Ostrow’s statement, a direct rebuttal to the seven-pages of letters published by the Illinois Gaming Board on February 5, 2026.  “Our operators implement robust age verification, responsible social gaming tools, and comprehensive safeguards on Social Plus games, setting us apart from unregulated, illegal gambling sites,” said the SGLA post. This was in direct response to the IGB stating that there were “more than 60 cease-and-desist letters” issued to operators that were running “illegal online casino and/or online sweepstakes gaming platforms in Illinois.”  SGLA says that there has been a misunderstanding in gambling terminology …

SGLA responds to Indiana Committee Vote on sweepstakes bill

SGLA responds to Indiana Committee Vote on sweepstakes bill

Published by skeptic

The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) has issued a statement, following the Indiana House Public Policy Committee’s vote on HB 1052, which saw the sweepstakes-focused bill advancing. On January 22, HB 1052, which would see sweepstakes gaming banned in Indiana, received a 10-0 vote during a House Public Policy Committee. This came after a more in-depth discussion two weeks ago, but there is still a way to go, and it’s not known whether it’ll have to pass through other committees before heading to the House. Now, Managing Director Sean Ostrow of SGLA has issued further thoughts on the matter: “Social Plus games have been operating lawfully in Indiana since 2012 and are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers. “Rather than a ban that would criminalize law-abiding businesses while doing nothing to stop illegal operators, we believe sensible regulation is the pragmatic pathway forward.” Indiana sweepstakes bill, HB 1052, continues as SGLA issues new statement He continued to say the alliance has proposed a regulatory framework that would generate over $20 million in annual revenue …

SGLA testifies before Maine lawmakers, urges them not to ban Social Plus games

SGLA testifies before Maine lawmakers, urges them not to ban Social Plus games

Published by skeptic

The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) is asking state lawmakers in Maine to reconsider the SP 825 bill which would see Social Plus games banned. It was back in November 2025 when the term ‘Social Plus’ was coined in a blog written by SGLA’s Managing Director Sean Ostrow as a new term for online sweepstakes game. These are always restricted to players 21+ and can include interactive board, card or casino-style games that are free-to-play. Now, the alliance says they have submitted testimony on the Maine Senate Paper 825 as they say Social Plus games are a lawful category of free-to-play and freemium online social games with sweepstakes promotions. Virginia becomes the 5th state to propose a ban on sweepstakes casinos in the 2026 legislative session, joining Maine, Indiana, Florida and Mississippi. Virginia's proposed sweeps ban is part of the iGaming bill introduced earlier this week. HB 161: https://t.co/SsJ5rUHZs1 pic.twitter.com/QtxWrtkgC9 — Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) January 11, 2026 The SGLA suggests around 50,000 adults throughout the state of Maine use these types of games. “If the …

SGLA pushes for sweepstakes regulation over an outright ban in Indiana

SGLA pushes for sweepstakes regulation over an outright ban in Indiana

Published by skeptic

The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) is urging Indiana lawmakers to rethink a sweepstakes ban, pushing instead for regulation. Testimony on Indiana House Bill 1052 was heard on January 5, sparking a new push from the SGLA to encourage lawmakers to reconsider the outright ban on Social Plus games, or sweepstakes. The bill would ban online social games with sweepstakes promotions, currently restricted to those over 21 years of age. Nine states, including Indiana, are working on legislation to ban sweepstakes games in 2026. That's according to testimony in the Indiana House Public Policy Committee hearing on HB 1052 Other states were not mentioned but proponents did note the states that currently ban them — Steve Bittenbender (@BittGDCG) January 6, 2026 “Social Plus games are a safe, legal form of entertainment that has been operating responsibly in Indiana since 2012,” said Sean Ostrow, Managing Director of the SGLA in a press release. “HB 1052, as currently written, would criminalize law-abiding businesses while doing little to stop illegal operators who exploit consumers. The hundreds of thousands …