SGLA maintains Indiana regulatory push after HB 1052 becomes law

The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) said it will continue engaging with Indiana lawmakers after Governor Mike Braun signed HB 1052 into law, advancing the state's crackdown on sweepstakes-style gaming models.  

Indiana lawmakers moved the measure through the 2026 session as part of a broader effort to give state authorities clearer tools to address online sweepstakes and social casino products.

In a statement released after the bill was signed, SGLA said it remained committed to seeking a regulated route for what it calls social plus games in the state.

SGLA Managing Director, Sean Ostrow, said: "We are disappointed that HB 1052 has become law."

He added: "We look forward to continuing to work with Indiana lawmakers on a regulatory framework for digital entertainment that protects the hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers that enjoy Social Plus games, while generating tens-of-millions in annual tax revenue."

The alliance said the legislative process showed bipartisan interest in a regulatory approach rather than an outright prohibition. It also said its proposed framework would include strict age verification, data privacy standards and responsible social gameplay protections.

SGLA stated that social plus games have operated in Indiana since 2012 and are used by hundreds of thousands of residents. It also said regulation could generate more than $20m in annual tax revenue for the state.

HB 1052 has drawn attention across the US gaming sector because Indiana is among several states weighing how to address dual-currency gaming products that resemble casino play.  

Industry debate has centered on whether those products should be banned outright or brought under a defined regulatory structure. 

Coverage of the bill during the legislative process indicated Indiana's proposal included enforcement powers and financial penalties tied to sweepstakes-style gaming activity.

For SGLA, the outcome in Indiana appears unlikely to end that campaign. The alliance said it will continue advocating for a framework built around consumer protections and formal oversight rather than prohibition alone.

SGLA added Paysafe as a partner in January 2026, saying the payments supplier would support its push for the regulation of social plus games in states including Indiana and Maine. The alliance said at the time that partner operators, including VGW, PlayStudios, Yellow Social Interactive, ARB Interactive, Nuvei and B-Two Operations, supported measures such as age and identity verification, geolocation and secure data handling.