On June 25th, 2020, the Nevada Gaming Commission held a hearing in which it adopted amendments to the Nevada Gaming Regulations to permit the direct or indirect electronic funding of wagering on a game or gaming device. What does this mean for Nevada gaming operators? To understand the impact of this change, it helps to …
Esports in the Time of Physical Distancing
The COVID-19 virus pandemic has been the most disruptive event to impact the gaming industry in Nevada in the past 100 years. Not since Nevada outlawed gaming in 1909 has the state’s gaming industry faced compelled closure. In fact, in the years since Nevada brought back wide-open licensed gaming in 1931, Nevada’s casinos have never been …
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As Federal Aid for the Gaming Industry Lags in the US, Gaming Properties Prepare for Eventual Re-Opening
Over the past several weeks, we have seen the gaming industry scramble to gain inclusion in relief under the hastily passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (“CARES”), including the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). CARES was designed to assist businesses and furloughed employees in their efforts to tread water until the pandemic …
Predictions for Gaming and Hospitality Trends in 2020
The dawn of a new year always brings an opportunity to engage in speculation about significant events for the next year. At this time, the Gaming and Hospitality Group will do the same. SPORTS WAGERING EXPANSION CONTINUES In the wake of the demise of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), more than a …
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The U.S. Department of Justice Restores America’s Wire Act by Opinion
On January 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a new opinion memorandum from the Office of Legal Counsel (“OLC”) regarding its interpretation of the Federal Wire Act. The Federal Wire Act is a federal criminal gambling statute enacted in 1961 as part of a package of laws to deprive organized crime of …
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Once a “Patron,” Always a Patron?
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (the “Board”) has been delegated the responsibility of resolving disputes between casino customers and the casinos pursuant to the process for patron disputes outlined in NGC Regulation 7A. This includes, for example, making determinations as to whether a jackpot was wrongfully withheld or in fact caused by a machine malfunction …
How to Banish the Black Market and Ensure Integrity: What States Legalizing Sports Betting for the First Time Can Learn from Nevada and Legalized Cannabis States
Integrity, integrity, integrity. The integrity of the game is a top concern of regulators and the college and professional sports leagues as legalized sports wagering expands across the United States. But what steps can regulators take to ensure that the “fix” is not in on games being wagered upon? In theory and in practice, legalization …
Me Too: Nevada Regulators Shine a Spotlight on the Sexual Harassment Policies of Gaming Licensees
As the “Me Too” movement sweeps the nation, the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace has been put in the spotlight. And with the highly publicized situation involving casino mogul Steve Wynn, that spotlight is being focused on the gaming industry in a big way. Nevada’s regulators were quickly inundated by reports of sexual …
Now That PASPA Has Fallen, What Does This Mean for the States
Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (“PASPA”) is unconstitutional commandeering, a number of states are rushing to pass laws to legalize and regulate sports betting within their borders. Some, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are well down the path, with potential to have operational sports …
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How the Ninth Circuit Big Fish Casino Decision Could Impact Online Free Casino Offerings Across the U.S.
Virtually every significant gaming operator in the United States has some form of “free to play” online casino offering. Because no purchase is necessary to play (no consideration) and no valuable prizes are offered (i.e., you cannot trade your free play credits for a comped hotel stay), these offerings have generally met with green lights …