The Social Gaming Management Alliance (SGLA) is urging Indiana lawmakers to rethink a sweepstakes ban, pushing as an alternative for regulation.
Testimony on Indiana House Bill 1052 was heard on January 5, sparking a brand new push from the SGLA to encourage lawmakers to rethink the outright ban on Social Plus video games, or sweepstakes. The invoice would ban on-line social video games with sweepstakes promotions, presently restricted to these over 21 years of age.
9 states, together with Indiana, are engaged on laws to ban sweepstakes video games in 2026. That's in response to testimony within the Indiana Home Public Coverage Committee listening to on HB 1052
Different states weren’t talked about however proponents did word the states that presently ban them
— Steve Bittenbender (@BittGDCG) January 6, 2026
“Social Plus video games are a secure, authorized type of leisure that has been working responsibly in Indiana since 2012,” stated Sean Ostrow, Managing Director of the SGLA in a press release. “HB 1052, as presently written, would criminalize law-abiding companies whereas doing little to cease unlawful operators who exploit shoppers. The a whole lot of 1000’s of Hoosiers who take pleasure in these video games deserve a regulated surroundings that protects them and preserves selection.”
As a substitute of the ban, the SGLA has proposed a strengthened regulatory framework, estimating that it will generate over $20 million in annual income for the state of Indiana by way of participant buy taxes and operator registration charges. The prompt laws would implement strict age verification, information privateness, and accountable gameplay protections.
“Accountable regulation, reasonably than a ban, is the pragmatic pathway ahead,” Ostrow defined. “We’re able to work with Indiana legislators to guard shoppers, help native companies, and supply significant tax income whereas retaining these common video games accessible to adults.”
The opposition to a sweepstakes ban in Indiana
The first hearing noticed testimony from Dan Marks, Chief Monetary Officer of ARB Interactive, and Lloyd Melnick, Chief Development Officer at VGW, each of whom argued that regulation wouldn’t have the sought-after impact of defending shoppers within the state.
“HB 1052 is an excessively broad try to guard shoppers from unhealthy actors that can proceed to prey on shoppers whether or not the invoice is handed or not,” stated Marks on the listening to. “If it does cross, shoppers will likely be in additional hazard as official corporations like ARB stop operations and our gamers drift to offshore websites that function illegally.”
Equally, Melnick pushed for regulation that may safeguard shoppers with out punishing authorized operators, arguing that “Social Plus video games profit gamers by giving them a broad vary of enjoyable, secure leisure”.
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