SGLA Hits New York’s Social Plus Games Ban

On December 5th, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill 5935 into law, joining at least five states in banning sweepstakes casinos. With the law’s immediate effect, Attorney General Letitia James and Senator Joseph Addabbo quickly worked on enforcement. 

However, the industry wasn’t happy with the new law, with the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) expressing its disappointment. For SGLA, S. 5935-A / A. 6745-A was a rushed legislation, depriving New Yorkers of access to fun digital entertainment and depriving the state of hundreds of dollars in economic revenues.

A Missed Opportunity?

For SGLA, New York’s legislators are in the wrong, at least in estimating the economic potential of sweepstakes casinos.

In a statement published December 8th, the lobby firm cited a recent Eilers & Krejcik Gaming study about the potential of Social Plus games in boosting the state’s economy. According to the research firm, sweepstakes-style games added over $230 million to the state’s economy in 2024.

A portion of the revenues came from interchange fees (of more than $135 million paid to state-based credit card issuers), as well as payment processing and card network fees. 

SGLA argued that New York could potentially earn around $80 million annually under a modernized regulatory framework. 

However, it’s no longer possible after approving the ban. For SGLA, the new law hurts “consumers, businesses and the state’s innovation economy.

SGLA Join Calls for Regulation, Not Complete Ban

For SGLA and other industry stakeholders, a total ban isn’t the best move forward. In the same statement, it argues for regulation and relies on a recent national survey which favors regulation. SGLA’s Jeff Duncan added his voice to the debate, adding that players and stakeholders have made their positions clear: that they prefer to retain and regulate this popular form of digital entertainment. 

Duncan adds that Governor Hochul had the opportunity to boost the state’s economy, but “chose a short-sighted path, closing the door on choice, innovation, and hundreds of millions in economic activity”.

REFERENCES

• SGLA