Alabama

Impacts on the Gaming Industry: A Closer Look at the FTC’s Final Non-Compete Rule

By Tommy Shepherd on Posted in Government Regulation
On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its Final Non-Compete Agreement Rule (final rule) banning non-compete agreements between employers and their workers. The final rule will go into effect 120 days after being published in the Federal Register. This final rule will impact most US businesses, specifically those that utilize non-compete agreements to … Continue Reading

Corporate Transparency Act Update

By Tommy Shepherd on Posted in Government Regulation
As we complete the first quarter of 2024, business entities in the United States (including those involved in the gaming industry) should be familiar with their obligations under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which is part of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. The CTA requires entities organized by a filing under state or tribal … Continue Reading

Alabama’s 2024 Legislative Session

By Matthew C. McDonald and Tommy Shepherd on Posted in Alabama Gaming, Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Horse-racing, Lottery, Skill-based Gaming, Slot Machines, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming
The regular session of the Alabama Legislature begins on Feb. 6, 2024. Legislators are allotted 30 legislative days during the session, which totals 105 calendar days. Once again it appears that competing legislative proposals relating to gambling will be considered. Legislators have grappled unsuccessfully with the issue since 1999, the year Alabama voters declined to … Continue Reading

Beneficial for Whom? Requirement to Provide Beneficial Ownership Information for Business Entities Begins January 1, 2024

By Tommy Shepherd and Walt Terry on Posted in American Gaming Association, Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Louisiana Gaming, Mississippi Gaming Commission
On January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act, a US federal law, will begin requiring certain corporations and limited liability companies to disclose their beneficial ownership information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the US Department of the Treasury. The corporate ownership structures of many gaming companies, particularly those that utilize … Continue Reading

2021 Regional Gaming Highlights

By Tommy Shepherd, J. Kelly Duncan, Matthew C. McDonald and Chris Ulfers on Posted in Alabama Gaming, Casino Gaming, Georgia Gaming, Government Regulation, Horse-racing, Lottery, Lottery News, Louisiana Gaming, Skill-based Gaming, Slot Machines, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming
Alabama In 2020, Governor Kay Ivey appointed a Gaming Task Force to study the feasibility of legalizing gaming in Alabama. Since voters rejected the last attempt in 1999 to amend the Alabama constitutional prohibition on gambling, numerous attempts to pass gaming legislation have failed. But with the proliferation of gaming in surrounding states, bingo casinos … Continue Reading

Alabama Gaming Proposal

By Matthew C. McDonald and Tommy Shepherd on Posted in Alabama Gaming, Bingo, Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Tribal Gaming
Senator Del Marsh, who served as president pro tem of the Alabama Senate 2010–2020, introduced on February 9, 2021, SB214, a bill proposing an amendment to the Alabama Constitution (the CA). The CA proposes comprehensive authorization of gaming, including a lottery, five casinos, and sports wagering. It also authorizes and encourages Governor Kay Ivey to … Continue Reading

2020 Regional Gaming Highlights

By J. Kelly Duncan, Tommy Shepherd, Matthew C. McDonald, Zach Branson and Chris Ulfers on Posted in Casino Gaming, Georgia Gaming, Government Regulation, Horse-racing, Lottery, Louisiana Gaming, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Betting, Tribal Gaming
Alabama In late 2019, the Birmingham Race Course placed 301 historical horse racing machines at its facility. The machines, known as historical pari-mutuel betting, allow users to place wagers on horse races that have already taken place. The machines use historical information from previously run races, allowing bettors to pick the favorites or handicap for … Continue Reading

Challenging Times: Specific Issues Facing the Gaming Industry During the Coronavirus Crisis

By Tommy Shepherd and J. Kelly Duncan on Posted in Casino Gaming, Jones Walker Announcements
With nearly all (980 of 989) commercial and tribal casinos in the United States closed, affecting more than 650,000 directly employed persons during the novel coronavirus shutdown, there are specific sets of issues facing the gaming industry. We summarize some of the more important ones below. Employee Issues Many gaming industry employers have taken one … Continue Reading

How Important Would Sports Betting Be to the State of Mississippi?

By Tommy Shepherd and Zach Branson on Posted in Daily Fantasy Sports, Government Regulation, Horse-racing, Skill-based Gaming, Sports Wagering, Uncategorized
Enacted in 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (“PASPA”) effectively prohibits sports betting in the U.S. at both a federal and state level other than for a few exceptions that benefit four states (Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana). In recent years, some state governments and professional sports leagues have completely altered or at … Continue Reading

Jones Walker Gaming Attorneys Publish Inaugural Chambers Practice Guide

By J. Kelly Duncan, Kirkland E. Reid, Tommy Shepherd, Chris Ulfers and Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Government Regulation, Jones Walker Announcements
Jones Walker LLP gaming law partners J. Kelly Duncan, Nicole M. Duarte, Kirkland E. Reid, and Thomas B. Shepherd III, together with associate Christopher K. Ulfers, recently authored several chapters in the inaugural Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide for “Gaming, Gambling & Licensing 2018.” The guide provides legal insight and commentary on key issues and … Continue Reading

Alabama Legislature Ends Session at Impasse Over Gaming

By Matthew C. McDonald on Posted in Bingo, Tribal Gaming
The Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die on May 4, 2016, without adopting gaming measures which could have shored up its beleaguered budgets. Alabama’s general fund budget, chronically beset by inadequate funding for Medicaid and Corrections, was adopted in this same session over Governor Bentley’s veto even though it left a projected $85 million shortfall in … Continue Reading

Alabama’s Gaming Climate

By Kirkland E. Reid on Posted in Bingo, Lottery News
On November 5, 2015, Governor Robert Bentley issued Executive Order No. 13.  This Order restored the “primary responsibility” for enforcing Alabama’s gambling laws to the sheriffs and district attorneys of each county “to be guided by their respective interpretation of the laws of the State of Alabama in their capacity as constitutional officers and officers … Continue Reading

Alabama: Indian Gaming Benefits More Than Just Tribes

By on Posted in Tribal Gaming
While political opposition still sometimes flares up, with some form of legal gaming available in all but two states, there now is little question that gaming is widely accepted in the United States.  In 2014, commercial casino gaming revenues were slightly less than $38 billion, and tribal gaming represented an additional $28.5 billion. These are … Continue Reading

Jones Walker attorneys author state gaming guides

By J. Kelly Duncan on Posted in Uncategorized
In recognition of the experience and depth of the Jones Walker gaming practice, firm attorneys were solicited to contribute five chapters to the 2016 edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Gambling. The chapters written by Jones Walker gaming practitioners consist of current gaming regulations in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and … Continue Reading
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