Unlicensed lotteries and sweepstakes were the focus of a recent online educational series hosted by the American Gaming Association (AGA) as regulated operators struggle to compete with their unregulated competitors. The event was hosted by AGA Senior Vice President Chris Cylke and Indian Gaming Association (IGA) conference chair Victor Rocha and IGA executive director Jason Giles.
Giles pointed out that one of the big challenges regulated operators face is that unlicensed lotteries and sweepstakes are rarely a priority for state law enforcement. “Part of the problem is that (attorneys general) are usually looking for higher office, so it is not a priority,” Giles said. “And it’s not that interesting. Honestly, the idea of people sitting down to play free games (at home) is a little weird.
“Look at Virginia, you have an AG who is more concerned with preventing the marijuana rollout, but you still have these illegal machines everywhere. I don’t know how you get it to a higher level. Does there need to be some huge scandal? That’s not what we want,” he said in comments reported on by iGaming Business.
Cylke summed up the whole sweepstakes conundrum by pointing out one very basic, and market-based fact saying, “If sweepstakes gaming were as clear cut as those involved with it are saying, we probably would be doing it.”
As it stands, this week’s discussion isn’t likely to impact any legal authorities responsible for prosecuting unlicensed sweepstakes and pick ’em operators. But the writing is on the wall for America’s grey market and it’s just a matter of time before they fall into the regulatory fold, or are run out of business completely.