New Social and Promotional Gaming Association Aims to Promote Responsible Sweepstakes Gaming

SPGA Launches with Consumer Protection Focus

Last week the SPGA held its first briefing, moderated by Chris Grove, co-founder of Acies Investments. The event looked at the rise of social sweepstakes games where players can win real prizes without spending a dime.

The association wants to provide clarity to regulators, policymakers and consumers on the legality and integrity of these games that millions of Americans play.

Busting Myths and Legitimacy

Chris Grove talked about transparency in the social sweepstakes industry. During the briefing Grove said many consumers and stakeholders still have misconceptions about the gaming model.

The conversation covered the term “social sweeps” also known as “social casinos 2.0” which combines the social casino model with sweepstakes-style prizes. Grove said we need to address the concerns around fairness and security of these games.

Clubs Poker’s Player Safety Approach

Jon Kaplowitz, CEO and co-founder of Clubs Poker participated in the briefing and talked about how his free-to-play poker platform prioritizes compliance with player protection policies.

Unlike traditional social casinos, Clubs Poker follows best practices for anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) processes.

Kaplowitz said the platform has no financial obligations from its players and works with partners from the casino and sportsbook industries to be compliant.

Kaplowitz further stressed the importance of responsible gaming tools on Clubs Poker. “We take this (responsible gaming) very seriously and we believe we have some of the best-in-class responsible gambling tools out there,” said Kaplowitz.

These tools include purchase limits, time restrictions, and self-exclusion options. The platform’s “reality check” feature also prompts users who play for over an hour to review responsible gaming tools or take a break, demonstrating a proactive approach to player welfare.

Ensuring Game Fairness and Integrity

Another key concern in the social sweepstakes sector is game fairness. Kaplowitz explained that Clubs Poker works with Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) to certify the fairness of its games, ensuring the integrity of the platform. This partnership helps maintain high standards of operation and consumer trust, reflecting the broader goals of the SPGA.