Social gaming operators in the “sweeps” space and their technology providers have joined forces to create a trade organization to bolster the image of their industry. Last week, 11 companies became members of the newly formed Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), which has the stated aim of providing a “unified voice for the integrity and responsibility of its members’ offerings.”
Inaugural SPGA members include:
- 10 Ten Gaming (SmilesCasino)
- Blazesoft (Zula Casino, Fortune Coins Casino, Sportzino Casino)
- Fliff (Fliff Social Sportsbook)
- FSG Digital (real-money brands and part of Skillz leadership)
- Gold Coin Group (Chanced Casino, Punt.com)
- High 5 Entertainment (High 5 Casino)
- KHK Games (Clubs Poker)
- Kickr Games (Kikr Sports and Casino)
- Octacom (software and service provider)
- Rolling Riches (Rolling Riches Casino)
- Woopla Gaming (Funzpoints Casino)
There is one notable absence from the list: Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), which owns some of the most successful brands in the space, like Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots.
SPGA plans to launch on October 1 with a webinar to discuss further details.
What Are SPGA’s Goals?
According to its website, the SPGA mission includes:
The Social and Promotional Games Association and its members are committed to protecting players, promoting responsible innovation, and advocating for clear regulations that allow the industry to flourish.
Moreover, the SPGA provides a unified voice to promote integrity and social and promotional gaming responsibility by uniting platforms. The SPGA aims to achieve “a bright future” for the industry and players.
Commitments of the SPGA
The SPGA website states that the organization and its members are committed to:
- Player safety: Members ensure players’ safety by implementing tools like geolocation technology, age verification processes, and responsible gaming tools.
- Industry Advocacy: SPGA members offer games that comply with federal and state laws. Through legal and regulatory analysis, these games differentiate from real-money gambling.
- Consumer Awareness And Education: To ensure transparency and distinguish from gambling, SPGA members must follow advertising and disclosure practices, including clear messaging about game mechanics, odds, and free entry options.
- Fostering Innovation and Industry Growth: The SPGA aims to develop rules and regulations for social and promotional games. That will allow for innovation while maintaining player protection. It will also help emerging companies and establish the industry.
What Are Social Games?
Social casinos allow users to play casino-style games for fun without real money involved. These casinos are not considered gambling sites as they don’t use cash to place wagers but instead use virtual chips or coins with no cash value. Players receive free coins with registration and through promotions but can buy more if they don’t want to wait.
Some sites, called sweepstakes casinos or “sweeps casinos,” allow players to play in promotional mode for the chance to redeem their winnings under US sweepstakes laws. Per sweepstakes laws, users cannot buy extra entries (in this case, sweepstakes tokens, often referred to as Sweepstakes Coins). Instead, they can receive them via promotions or as a free bonus when purchasing virtual coins.
Social sites operate under federal laws, allowing them to operate even in states that have not legalized online real-money casinos.
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