Category Archives: Sports Wagering

Alabama’s 2024 Legislative Session

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

Jones Walker Expands Gaming Group with New Office in Tallahassee, Florida

By J. Kelly Duncan and Tommy Shepherd on January 12, 2024 Posted in American Gaming Association, Casino Gaming, Daily Fantasy Sports, Florida Gaming, Florida Gaming Control Commission, Government Regulation, Horse-racing, International Masters of Gaming Law, Jones Walker Announcements, Lottery, Louisiana Gaming, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

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

Federal Appellate Court Rules Florida-Seminole Compact Legal Under Federal Law

By Tommy Shepherd and Katie Hester on July 12, 2023 Posted in Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

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

2022 Mississippi Milestones

By Tommy Shepherd on January 4, 2023 Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

We took a deep dive into Mississippi’s milestones throughout 2022 and have listed those highlights below. Still No Mobile Sports WageringAt least five bills authorizing mobile sports wagering were introduced in the 2022 session of the Mississippi Legislature. However, once again, none made it out of committee due to the inability of gaming interests to … Continue Reading

2021 Regional Gaming Highlights

By Tommy Shepherd, J. Kelly Duncan, Matthew C. McDonald and Chris Ulfers on January 12, 2022 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

2021 Mississippi Milestones

By Tommy Shepherd on January 12, 2022 Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Lottery, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Skill-based Gaming, Slot Machines, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

We took a deeper dive into Mississippi’s milestones throughout 2020 and have listed those highlights below. Mobile Wagering Legislation Has No Legs — Yet Coast Senators Scott Delano and Philip Moran and others introduced bills (SB 2732, SB 2396, and HB 1042) to allow mobile sports betting statewide in an effort to enable Mississippi sports … Continue Reading

The Latest on Sports Wagering in Louisiana

By Tommy Shepherd, J. Kelly Duncan and Chris Ulfers on June 22, 2021 Posted in Louisiana Gaming, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

On June 10, 2021, the Louisiana Legislature advanced a key piece of sports wagering legislation, Senate Bill 247, to Governor John Bel Edwards. If signed into law, Senate Bill 247 will establish the all-important regulatory framework for the conduct of sports wagering in Louisiana and put certain parishes one step closer to offering sports wagering. … Continue Reading

What’s Next for Sports Wagering in Louisiana? Regulations, Regulations, Regulations

By J. Kelly Duncan, Tommy Shepherd and Chris Ulfers on May 27, 2021 Posted in Louisiana Gaming, Sports Wagering

In November 2020, voters in 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes voted to authorize sports wagering in their respective parishes. Sports wagering, however, is not yet being offered in the state because the Louisiana Legislature and Louisiana Gaming Control Board first need to implement operational-, tax-, and licensing-related rules to govern the activity. With the 2021 Regular … Continue Reading

Sports Wagering is on the Ballot in Louisiana: Here’s What We Know

By J. Kelly Duncan, Tommy Shepherd and Chris Ulfers on October 20, 2020 Posted in Louisiana Gaming, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering

Despite a significant effort to legalize sports wagering in Louisiana during the 2019 Legislative Session, sports wagering remains illegal in the Bayou State. Many expect that to change soon. In June 2020, Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law Senate Bill 130, which will give voters in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes the ability to … Continue Reading

Virginia Establishes Narrow Window for Sports Betting Permit Applications

By Tommy Shepherd and J. Kelly Duncan on September 30, 2020 Posted in Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Virginia Lottery Board

The Virginia Lottery Board will accept applications for sports betting permit holders beginning October 15, 2020. All applications for such permits must be filed on or before October 31, 2020. After October 31, 2020, applications for sports betting permits will not be accepted again until the next annual application period — May 15–31, 2021. The … Continue Reading

2019 Regional Gaming Highlights

By J. Kelly Duncan, Tommy Shepherd and Zach Branson on December 18, 2019 Posted in Casino Gaming, Lottery, Lottery News, Skill-based Gaming, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

As 2019 comes to an end, we’ve taken the opportunity to round up happenings in gaming throughout the Southeast.… Continue Reading

Sports Betting in Mississippi: It Was a Very Good Year

By Tommy Shepherd on August 5, 2019 Posted in Casino Gaming, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering

August 1 marks the first 12 months of legal sports wagering in Mississippi. The first such bets were placed at Gold Strike in Tunica and Beau Rivage in Biloxi, followed closely by the IP and Sam’s Town Tunica. So how did Mississippi fare in its first year of sports wagering? Did Mississippi sports betting reach … Continue Reading

Update on Sports Wagering in Louisiana

By J. Kelly Duncan, Tommy Shepherd and Chris Ulfers on June 21, 2019 Posted in Daily Fantasy Sports, Government Regulation, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering

We write with an update on the status of sports wagering in Louisiana. In our May 2019 article titled “Sports Wagering in Louisiana Might Be on the Horizon,” we provided an overview of Senate Bill 153, sponsored by Senator Danny Martiny (R-Metairie), and its efforts to legalize sports wagering in Louisiana. As of May 22, the date on … Continue Reading

Sports Wagering in Louisiana Might Be on the Horizon

By J. Kelly Duncan, Tommy Shepherd and Chris Ulfers on May 24, 2019 Posted in Horse-racing, PASPA, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

With the introduction and serious consideration of Senate Bill 153 during the 2019 Regular Session, Louisiana is primed to join the growing number of states that have legalized sports wagering in recent years. Senate Bill 153, sponsored by Senator Danny Martiny (R-Metairie), would authorize sports wagering in Louisiana. The bill, if passed, would call for … Continue Reading

Will Louisiana Be the Next Southern State to Permit Sports Wagering?

By J. Kelly Duncan and Tommy Shepherd on April 9, 2019 Posted in Daily Fantasy Sports, Government Regulation, PASPA, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering

The 2019 session of the Louisiana Legislature began on April 8. Senator Danny Martiny (R-Metairie) has pre-filed a bill which would authorize sports betting on a parish-by-parish basis in the same way that daily fantasy sports (DFS) was legalized last year. Even though the Louisiana Senate Judiciary B Committee was the only place in the … Continue Reading

What Do Delaware’s Early Sports Betting Numbers Tell Us About Mississippi’s Potential?

By Zach Branson and Tommy Shepherd on July 10, 2018 Posted in Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Betting, Sports Wagering

Recently, the State of Delaware released data from the first 20 days of sports wagering in the state. These numbers may provide some insight into the anticipated success of sports betting in Mississippi. But first, let’s review what some of the experts have previously estimated gross gaming revenue (“GGR”) from sports wagering could be in … Continue Reading

Mississippi Gaming Commission Adopts Final Sports and Race Book Regulations

By Zach Branson and Tommy Shepherd on June 22, 2018 Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Wagering

On Thursday, June 21, the Mississippi Gaming Commission (“MGC”) took a major step toward the goal of licensed sports and race books in state casinos by adopting governing regulations. A copy of the final regulations can be accessed here. Differences between the draft regulations and the final regulations, as adopted, indicate that betting using smartphone apps … Continue Reading

What Has to Happen Before the First Sports Wager in Mississippi?

By Tommy Shepherd and Zach Branson on June 6, 2018 Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Mississippi Gaming Commission, PASPA, Sports Wagering

While many media outlets have reported that Mississippi is one of a handful of states on the forefront of preparing for legal sports betting after the Supreme Court declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional, there is a great deal that must happen before a Mississippi casino may accept legal sports wagers. … Continue Reading

Jones Walker’s Tommy Shepherd Speaks to the Press on How Sports Betting Could be a Game Changer in Mississippi

By Tommy Shepherd on May 24, 2018 Posted in Casino Gaming, Daily Fantasy Sports, Government Regulation, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Wagering

To see the interview, click here.… Continue Reading

Supreme Court Decision on PASPA Could Lead to Mississippi Sports Betting by June

By Tommy Shepherd on May 14, 2018 Posted in Casino Gaming, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Wagering

Following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling declaring the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act unconstitutional, the Mississippi Gaming Commission’s Executive Director has stated a goal of having legal sports betting in Mississippi casinos by the end of June. Draft regulations have circulated for weeks, and it is only a matter of time before final … Continue Reading

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

By Tommy Shepherd and Zach Branson on April 6, 2018 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

What will Santa bring for 2018 in Mississippi gaming?

By Tommy Shepherd on December 21, 2017 Posted in Daily Fantasy Sports, Government Regulation, Lottery News, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Wagering

While a lot has happened with regard to the gaming industry in Mississippi in 2017, many questions arise with respect to 2018. Is this the year for the lottery? Lottery proponents for many years have introduced bills for a lottery in Mississippi, only to have such bills die in legislative committees. However, in 2016, the … Continue Reading

Sports Betting – Will the Tribes be Shutout?

By on September 20, 2017 Posted in American Gaming Association, Sports Wagering, Tribal Gaming

Whether it’s members of Congress making highly publicized bets against each other on their hometown teams in the college national championships, March Madness office pools, or the massive amounts wagered on the Super Bowl each year, sports betting is a well-established American pastime. All this, of course, notwithstanding the federal ban on sports betting in … Continue Reading