New Start as International Social Gaming Association Formed

Social gambling may be a brand new term on the block, but it has strengthened its position dramatically with the formation of a new body to represent its interests. The unification of the Social Gaming Association and International Social Games Coalition has created the new International Social Gaming Association, who will take over the representation of members from both the former bodies.

With major changes in European, and especially UK gambling laws afoot, this association will be looking to ensure a positive deal for the new look social games these companies offer. As yet, the majority simply use these Facebook casinos as a method of marketing: they are free play and often follow the freemium model favored by most mobile games.

Mobile casinos will be most interested in this news, while current Social Gaming Association chairman Stuart Tilly, who will become non-executive board advisor with the ISGA, commenting: “The merger between our respective organizations is a continuing sign of the industry’s commitment to advancing its socially responsible agenda and the ISGA will give the industry a solid and powerful platform to do so.”

With mobile betting gaining traction and a series of socially oriented apps appearing from Paddy Power and Party Poker, among others, the new body will be drawing up a unified set of socially responsible values to which its members will have to adhere. With the market ever changing as new gambling laws are passed in various countries, it will also look to provide information to its members to prevent potential conflicts.

Andrew Hughes, founder of casino games studio AbZorba Games, remarked on the announcement: “This merger demonstrates the importance that our industry places upon working together, no matter how big or small, to provide a collective and unified voice to represent this vibrant industry.”