The American Gaming Association (AGA) has once again entered the debate surrounding sweepstakes and social casinos, attempting to gauge public opinion and provide evidence on the type of content these platforms offer.
AGA seeks to understand why players participate in social sweepstakes casinos
A debate has been raging over the validity of the sector and whether companies that offer sweepstakes social casinos may continue to do so without being subject to gambling laws and regulations.
Both state gambling regulators and attorneys general's offices have been up in arms against the sector, with organizations such as the Social and Promotional Games Association pushing back and arguing that the activity was based on legal precedent and did not constitute gambling in any form.
However, AGA is now weighing public opinion and trying to demonstrate that, in people’s minds, sweepstakes are gambling.
According to the association, 68% of all respondents to a recent survey played sweepstakes social casinos to win "real money," which is possible through the use of a dual currency. AGA has said that the reason is easy to understand:
"This confusion is no accident – many of these sites mimic the look, feel, and language of legal operators, blurring the line for consumers and reinforcing the need for clearer enforcement and public education."
Other key insights were analyzed and extracted by them, and they concluded that 90% of the people interviewed considered the activity to represent a form of gambling indeed.
Another 80% said that they spent money monthly, and half spend money weekly to fund their social casino habits, with no safety nets offered by the operators, the survey pointed out.
Few responsible gambling tools at sweeps operators, says AGA
AGA VP of Government Relations Tres York had this to say, outlining the case:
"These operators present themselves like legal, regulated platforms – but they operate outside the law and regulation. There are few, if any, responsible gaming tools, no regulatory oversight, and no consumer protections. It’s a dangerous subterfuge that puts players at real risk."
In other words, argues York, the data suggest that sweepstakes are "a façade" for gambling. York has urged lawmakers to come together and act in a way that ensures that the appropriate laws are enforced and that consumers are protected.
VGW, an operator of popular sweepstakes brands, recently announced that it is withdrawing its Sweep Coins payment methods from Mississippi and New Jersey.
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