SPGA Statement in Response to NY Senate Bill S5935

The Social and Promotional Games Association unconditionally opposes New York’s Senate Bill S5935 prohibiting social sweepstakes games. 

We appreciate New York lawmakers’ formal recognition that social sweepstakes are a legal form of entertainment – you don’t need to outlaw something if it is already illegal. 

But that’s where our appreciation ends. Albany legislators have no business dictating to New Yorkers what games they can play on their phones. This deeply flawed legislation is an affront to personal freedoms, an insult to New York voters, and a colossal waste of government resources. 

As constructed, the bill could criminalize promotional sweepstakes used by small businesses in New York, risking millions in revenue for local shops and restaurants and threatening thousands of jobs in an already fragile economic climate.

The bill could also outlaw promotional sweepstakes run by major Fortune 500 companies such as AT&T and Starbucks. 

Taylor Swift fans take note: With everything going on in the world, for some reason, New York lawmakers have made it a priority to outlaw the sweepstakes promotions that Marriott used last year to give away packages to the Eras Tour.  

The correct approach to support innovation, consumer choice, and the economy of New York is sensible regulation and taxation of social sweepstakes games that millions of adults enjoy responsibly and safely. 

We stand ready to work with New York policymakers who are willing to develop a more sensible, balanced approach that protects the rights of consumers and not the special interests of a small handful of corporate interests.