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
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
Jones Walker LLP is expanding its reach within the gaming industry by reopening its Tallahassee, Florida, office effective immediately. The new office expansion is the direct result of a successful and long-standing strategic alliance with Florida’s Dean Mead law firm. A total of nine attorneys and government relations professionals will join Jones Walker to maximize a larger client delivery … Continue Reading
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
On June 30, 2023, in a challenge by gaming competitors to the Florida-Seminole gaming compact (the Compact), the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit held that while a gaming compact entered into between a state and a Native American tribe pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) can legally authorize a tribe … Continue Reading
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 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
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
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 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
J. Kelly Duncan, chair of the firm’s Gaming Practice Group, and Marc W. Dunbar, partner in the firm’s Gaming Practice Group in Florida, were both speakers during the International Masters of Gaming Law Masterclass held on February 8, 2017, in London, England, at the 2017 ICE Expo. Mr. Duncan moderated the discussion on “Effects of … Continue Reading
A recent appellate court opinion from New Jersey could serve as the basis for civil and criminal proceedings against fantasy sports operations. The case styled New Jersey v. Amboy National Bank, 2016 WL 4488162, was handed down on August 26, and involved the civil forfeiture of accumulated funds in a bank account on deposit for … Continue Reading
Two issues of profile now are in the hands of Florida’s highest court which could forever change the landscape of Florida’s gaming industry. The first case involves a small horse track in North Florida, Gretna Racing. This quarter horse track located in Gadsden County, Florida applied for a license to operate slot machines after the … Continue Reading
Prior authored articles have discussed the potential perils of the Illegal Gambling Business Act, 18 USC 1955, faced by those companies involved in Internet gaming that operate in or take action from players in the United States. See Marc’s article title “Tackling a Hidden Danger” previously authored for iNTERGAMINGLAW Magazine. In light of the recent … Continue Reading
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
Anyone who plays the lottery dreams of one day hitting it big, making the call to their boss that they won’t be in tomorrow (or ever again), or buying that fancy car they’ve always had their eye on. For most players, that dream never turns into a reality and the lucky ticket never ends up … Continue Reading
To keep clients and gaming-related businesses informed about the latest industry news and legal developments that affect the gaming industry across our southeastern footprint, our Florida gaming lawyers publish Florida Gaming Watch. It is the state’s most comprehensive gaming website, which delivers daily updates on industry news, events and issues in Florida and throughout the … Continue Reading