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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Canada Lifts Restrictions Against Gaming Companies’ Ability to Utilize Co-Lending Program
In light of COVID-19, the Canadian government is offering financial relief by way of various forms. Relief includes, but is not limited to the following: Wage Subsidy Program. The federal government is offering a 75% wage subsidy to all eligible employers of up to $847 per week from March 15 – June 6. Employers must show …
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 California Consumer Privacy Act Could Be Expensive for the Gaming and Hospitality Industry
Today’s gaming and hospitality companies are complex businesses and data driven processes and systems that collect significant and various types of customer information to provide unsurpassed customer service. However, the collection, processing, and storage of such information will now be more complex as regulatory bodies globally and governments in the U.S. impose tighter controls on …
The Effect of Canada’s Revised Anti-Money Laundering Rules on Casino Operators
On July 10, 2019, the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (the “Amending Regulations”) were formally released in the Canada Gazette. The formal release follows the June 2018 release of draft Amending Regulations. The Amending Regulations affect several regulated entities, including casinos. As such, casino …
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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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Québec’s Superior Court Rules that Bill 74 is Unconstitutional
In July 2018, the Superior Court of Québec held that the Québec government’s controversial attempt to force Internet service providers (“ISP”s) to block certain iGaming sites is unconstitutional. By way of background, on May 17, 2016, the Québec government passed Bill 74, which contained Internet-censoring provisions that were unprecedented in Canada. Bill 74 included a …
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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 …