Two trade associations are uniting under one roof, combining efforts to advocate for social gaming operators and brands amid recent legislative movement in California.
The Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA) and the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) are teaming up to create a single advocacy group for social gaming. The collaboration puts an end to the SPGA as its own association after its launch in 2024, an SPGA spokesperson confirmed to SBC Americas. The SPGA’s efforts in advocating for social gaming now fall under the SGLA umbrella. The consolidation was made to create one unified and consistent voice on social gaming issues amid recent scrutiny.
The SGLA is expanding through the consolidation after teaming up with Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) in May 2025 to create the advocacy group. The coalition is led by former Congressman Jeff Duncan and has a membership that includes Publishers Clearing House owner ARB Interactive, PLAYSTUDIOS and Yellow Social Interactive.
The SGLA has four key principles that it aims to promote, which include free-to-play gaming options, responsible gameplay, protecting players and age-restricted platforms.
Members of the now-defunct SPGA will implement the principles under the SGLA.
The SPGA launched with 10 members in September 2024, adding a new group of operators and brands to the SGLA. The SPGA had a membership that included Blazesoft, Fliff, Gold Coin Group, High 5 Entertainment, Kickr Games, Octacom and Woopla Gaming. It had two internal committees that focused on player safeguards and regulatory compliance.
SPGA and SGLA opposed California sweepstakes ban
The SPGA and SGLA consolidated efforts after the two groups both opposed California Assembly Bill 831, a bill that aims to ban online social games and sweepstakes casinos.
Earlier this week, the California Assembly passed AB 831 by a 79-0 vote, placing the piece of legislation on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for consideration after also gaining Senate approval. Newsom has until Oct. 12 to either sign or veto the measure that bans dual-currency social games and sweepstakes that resemble gambling and offer payouts.
“It is incredibly disappointing that the California Assembly decided to pass AB 831. Beyond the fact that this bill would worsen economic disparities among California tribes, put California to the back of the line in terms of digital innovation in this space, and take away a popular form of entertainment for residents, it will immediately strip $1 billion out of the state’s economy,” said Duncan after the California Assembly passed the measure.
As a result, the SGLA is asking Newsom to veto the bill. If Newsom fails to either sign or veto AB 831, it will pass in a “pocket signature.”
The measure has support from tribes and groups including the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, California Nations Indian Gaming Association, and the Sports Betting Alliance. In addition to the SGLA, several smaller California tribes oppose the bill.
