Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) Holdings announced Thursday the launch of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), a coalition of industry leaders advocating for the online social games industry.
The SGLA is a U.S.-based organization that aims to ensure key stakeholders stay informed about the growing online social games industry, including free-to-play, casino-themed games for sweepstakes casinos and social casinos.
The Alliance has appointed former U.S. Congressman Jeff Duncan as Executive Director.
Laurence Escalante, VGW founder and Chief Executive Officer, said:
“VGW has consistently led the way in innovation and player-first practices. Now, we’re excited to establish the SGLA with like-minded partners to take this further, promoting the highest standards of player protection and industry integrity while advocating for sensible regulatory frameworks that reflect the role of online social games as a safe and growing component of the interactive entertainment industry.”
VGW, Other SGLA Partners Vow To Support Four Principles
The SGLA advocates for “responsible innovation” and “appropriate oversight.”
Partners include PLAYSTUDIOS, Yellow Social Interactive (Pulsz), ARB Interactive (Modo Casino), and B-Two Operations (McLuck, Hello Millions, Spin Blitz), as well as major payments provider Nuvei.
According to VGW’s news release, all partners of the Alliance stand for the following principles:
Free to play: Online social games are meant to be played for free. No purchase should be required to play.
Responsible social gameplay: All types of online games must be safe, fun, and fair. The SGLA’s partners monitor behavior, train staff, and offer players tools to manage their play responsibly.
Protecting players, platforms, and the community: State-of-the-art financial crime prevention, security protocols, and data protection measures are required to ensure safety.
Age-restricted platforms: Casino-style games are only for adults, meaning platforms should implement age verification processes to prevent minors from accessing the sites.
VGW said it remains committed to “working with policymakers and other stakeholders to establish appropriate regulatory structures that safeguard players, and provide benefits to states and communities where it operates.”