SGLA testifies before Maine lawmakers, urges them not to ban Social Plus games
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 language of SP 825 is passed, the outcome will be sadly predictable – the law-abiding operators will exit the state, but illegal operators will stay and prey on unsuspecting Maine consumers,” said Sean Ostrow, Managing Director of the SGLA.
“Social Plus operators offer real consumer protections that keep minors from playing, that protect consumer data and finances, and that encourage responsible social gameplay.”
Speaking about their partner operators, SGLA say they all ensure that all Social Plus games are equipped with robust consumer protections, including age and identity verification, responsible social gameplay tools, geolocation, and secure handling of consumer data.
“Critical to this body, but also to us, is our player safety, security and game integrity,” said Lloyd Melnick, Chief Growth Officer at VGW, during the hearing. “We are incredibly proud of the measures and features we have developed.”
The alliance has instead offered an alternative to banning Social plus games, as they have proposed a regulatory framework which they say will generate over $3 million in annual revenue for Maine through player purchase taxes and operator registration fees.
“This proposal would ensure that all operators enforce strict age-verification restrictions to keep people under the age of 21 from participating, protect consumer data and privacy, ensure prizes can be redeemed promptly, provide clear and truthful advertising to adults only, and provide resources to ensure that customers are interacting with Social Plus games responsibly,” Ostrow added.
Featured Image: Via SGLA on X
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