Sean Ostrow has been promoted to become Executive Director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), replacing Jeff Duncan who will join the organization’s Board of Directors along with Derek Brinkman, Lloyd Melnick and Bryan Schroeder.
“Sean has been instrumental in building the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance into a respected voice for the Social Plus gaming industry,” Duncan said.
“During his time as Managing Director, he demonstrated the strategic vision, policy expertise and collaborative leadership needed to advance our mission.”
Ostrow originally joined the SGLA as Managing Director in October 2025, having previously served as a Contractor for Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and as part of FanDuel’s government affairs department.
With Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Ostrow advanced the Sports Betting Alliance’s policy initiatives and advised major clients such as the MLB, NBA and PGA Tour. Ostrow also played a “pivotal role” in advancing fantasy sports legislation while serving with FanDuel.
Duncan continued: “As I transition to the Board of Directors, I am confident Sean is the right leader to guide SGLA through its next phase of growth and continue advocating for innovation, responsible social gameplay and commonsense regulatory frameworks.”
Brinkman currently serves as Chief New Products Officer at VGW, while Melnick joins the Board as Chief Government Affairs Officer at VGW after holding leadership roles such as GM of Chumba Casino.
Schroeder serves as General Counsel at ARB Interactive and has worked in various legal and compliance roles within the gaming industry, including as SVP of Legal & Compliance at Tipico North America and VP – Compliance Officer for Hard Rock Digital.
In April, the SGLA issued a positive response to the close of Maryland's 2026 legislative session, saying the result allows social plus games to continue operating as part of the state's digital economy.
Ostrow believes the Alliance had addressed what he described as false allegations from casino interests during the session, arguing that the social plus industry already maintains consumer protections and contributes to Maryland's economy.
Paysafe joined the SGLA as the organization's newest partner in January and began advocating for the regulation and advancement of social plus games while also promoting responsible play
