Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA) Launches

Industry Leaders Form Group to Advocate for Responsible Industry Practices and Consumer Protections for Popular Online Games 

Industry leaders today announced the launch of the Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA), an organization dedicated to providing stakeholder education and advocating for the responsible operation of social and promotional games, sometimes referred to as social sweepstakes games. The SPGA brings together innovative companies in a unified approach to creating safe, legal, and engaging social and promotional gaming experiences for American adults.

The social games offered by SPGA members allow consumers to play online for free, with no purchase necessary, and provide consumers the opportunity to win prizes when they play.

The SPGA’s mission is to highlight the well-established legality and legitimacy of social sweepstakes games, providing regulators, policymakers, and consumers with a comprehensive understanding of these offerings. As this form of entertainment continues to grow in popularity, the organization and its members are working to ensure that millions of adults in the United States can continue to enjoy these legal games safely and responsibly.

As part of its commitment to fostering transparency, compliance and consumer protection, the SPGA has established internal committees to focus on areas crucial for the industry’s growth and sustainability:

Player Safeguards: Developing educational resources for adult consumers so they can continue to safely and responsibly participate in social gaming experiences. Expanding mechanisms to address consumer complaints and ensure fair treatment while enhancing player protections. Continuing to implement best practices and leading-edge technology for Know Your Customer (KYC), age verification, geolocation, and play and spending controls.

Regulatory Compliance: Developing policy principles to maintain alignment with the established regulatory and legal structures that underpin social games. Providing regulators and policymakers with a comprehensive understanding of the compliant and consumer-first operating model of the online social sweepstakes category, including the steps operators already take to ensure age and identity verification, limit fraud, and to provide consumers with control over their play experience.

“The formation of the SPGA is a critical step toward establishing a clear and cohesive voice for the social sweepstakes industry,” said Seth Schorr, CEO at FSG Digital Inc. “By creating this association, we are committed to helping regulators and policymakers understand how our industry’s products work and how they comply with the appropriate state and federal laws.”

“The SPGA is committed to fostering a cohesive industry voice through collaboration among member companies,” added Camilla Wright of Red Knot Communications, a spokesperson for the new industry body.

“Our goal is to provide forums for sharing knowledge and best practice mutual support and to create an environment that puts consumers first.”

“By prioritizing transparency and responsible practices and communicating this effectively, we will have an industry that thrives as it ensures that millions of adult American consumers can continue this form of online entertainment with confidence.”

To kick off its initiatives, the SPGA will host a webinar on October 1st, 2024, bringing together industry experts to discuss the future of social and promotional gaming. This event will explore emerging trends, regulatory landscapes, and best practices to ensure the industry’s sustainable growth. More details will be made available on thespga.org