Captain Obvious Makes Landmark Ruling: Texas Hold ‘Em Is Poker
Texas Hold ‘Em is poker. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise to most, but the pronouncement was a serious disappointment to an Idaho casino. The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled this week that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Idaho-based casino could not lawfully offer Texas Hold ‘Em on its site as the game was…
Read MoreAnother Bill to Expand the Wire Act: Bad Law Clothed in a Lie
It is ironic that recent proposed legislation that would expand the scope of the federal Wire Act comes from a U.S. senator in the South, where “states’ rights” has always been a rallying cry. This past week’s focus on the presence of the Confederate battle flag on the grounds of the South Carolina capitol (and…
Read MoreMinnesota Phases Out State Lottery-Operated Online Games
Minnesota’s legislature recently passed a bill that bars the Minnesota Lottery from offering online games, following a four month transition period. Specifically, the new law bans the lottery director from offering “the play of, on an electronic terminal, through a Web site, or by any other means or device, casino-style games, including but not limited…
Read MoreThe “Fight of the Century” in its 13th Round
It’s not uncommon to see sports fans get emotional at a game, match, race, or fight. They feel invested in their team, invested in their athlete. For the sports bettors out there, that investment may be literal, but for most it’s largely emotional. So at the hour of defeat do disappointed fans have a legal…
Read MoreWisconsin Indian Tribe Prevails – State Cannot Ban Electronic Poker on Reservation
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has overturned a federal district court ruling that had permitted the State of Wisconsin to prohibit the Ho Chunk tribe from offering electronic poker on its reservation although such games are not explicitly and uniformly prohibited in that state. This ruling may have implications for the…
Read MoreMany Firsts Surrounding This Year’s GiGse Conference
The 2015 Global iGaming Summit & Expo (GiGse) took place last week in San Francisco, and coincided with many exciting industry firsts. GiGse is the largest and most established event in North America which annually attracts over 700 iGaming and related industry professionals from all over the world. On April 20th, eGaming Review (EGR) North America, named Ifrah Law “Best…
Read MorePhoenix Project: Atlantic City Can Rise From The Ashes
Most of the news from the Atlantic City Boardwalk over the last couple of years has not been promising. Several of the massive casino resort properties there have closed and/or slipped into bankruptcy, and the resale or reopening of the properties has been stalled by legal and financial hurdles. But a new plan for development…
Read MoreRecap of RAWA House Subcommittee Hearing and What It Means for iGaming
The House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations held a hearing last week to consider bill HR 707, the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act,” or RAWA. The proposed bill would prohibit most types of online gambling, whether or not they have been legalized and regulated by any state. The bill was drafted in…
Read MoreNevada Sports Books Will Be Going For The Gold During The Next Olympics
It seems like, during the next Olympic Games in 2016, you will be able to bet your gold legally in Nevada on who will win the gold. Nevada gaming regulators have voted unanimously to permit the state’s sports books to accept wagers on the Olympic games for the first time in years. Nevada joins international…
Read MoreMinnesota’s Lottery Quagmire: The State Legislature’s Continued Resistance to Online Lottery Ticket Sales
As Minnesota’s lottery system turns 25 years old, director Ed Van Petten has sought to follow the lead of the most technologically-advanced state lottery systems in the country by expanding into the profitable market of online ticket sales. However, at a time when many states have enjoyed the additional revenue that online lottery sales can…
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