State Spotlight

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

By Tommy Shepherd and Katie Hester on 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 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 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 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 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 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

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

What Do We Know After the Mississippi Supreme Court’s Ruling in RW Development?

By Tommy Shepherd and Katie Hester on Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Mississippi Gaming Commission
Following Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi Legislature amended the Mississippi Gaming Control Act to allow Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos to locate within 800 feet inland of a previous legal gaming site. Then, in December 2020 the Mississippi Supreme Court rendered an important opinion interpreting the legal site provisions of both the Mississippi Gaming Control Act and the … 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

2020 Mississippi Milestones

By Tommy Shepherd and Zach Branson on Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Lottery, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Skill-based Gaming, Sports Betting, Tribal Gaming
We took a deeper dive into Mississippi’s milestones throughout 2020 and have listed those highlights below. UMUSIC Broadwater Hotel and Casino Dakia Global U-Ventures and Universal Music Group announced a $1.2 billion resort to be built in Biloxi starting in 2021, with a target opening in 2023. The planned resort would have 1,150 hotel rooms, … 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 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

Mississippi Casinos Authorized to Reopen on May 21

By Tommy Shepherd and Christopher S. Pace on Posted in Mississippi Gaming Commission
On May 15, 2020, the Mississippi Gaming Commission issued its Order Authorizing Reopening (authorizing the reopening of Mississippi casino properties at 8:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 21, 2020) under the limitations described in Industry Letter 2020-01. Please click here to review Industry Letter 2020-01 from the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Please click here to review the … Continue Reading

What Will Reopened Casinos Look Like in Louisiana and Mississippi After the Coronavirus Shutdown Ends?

By J. Kelly Duncan and Tommy Shepherd on Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Jones Walker Announcements, Slot Machines, Tribal Gaming
Even though the casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi continue to be closed under orders from the states’ governors and gaming regulators to address the coronavirus pandemic, we can speculate what a reopened gaming industry might look like in the Deep South once those orders are lifted. Prior to entry into a casino, guests may be … 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

Louisiana Suspends Legislative Session

By J. Kelly Duncan on Posted in Uncategorized
As confirmed by a spokesman for Speaker Schexnayder, the Louisiana legislature passed resolutions to suspend its business until March 31. This comes after a series of increasingly tough restrictions on public gatherings and commercial activity were announced including the closing of casinos and video poker truck stops until April 13. This puts a hard stop … Continue Reading

Louisiana Supreme Court Concludes that Permanently Moored Riverboat Casinos Are Not “Vessels” Under Maritime Law

By J. Kelly Duncan and Chris Ulfers on Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation
In Caldwell v. St. Charles Gaming (No. 2019-CC-1238), the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that a permanently moored riverboat casino engaged in dockside gaming is not a “vessel” under either the Jones Act or the General Maritime Law. Caldwell was employed as a technician by the Grand Palais Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and was allegedly … Continue Reading

Louisiana Supreme Court to Address Whether Permanently Moored Casinos Are “Vessels” Under Maritime Law

By J. Kelly Duncan and Chris Ulfers on Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation
The Louisiana Supreme Court will soon consider whether the Grand Palais casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, qualifies as a “vessel” under the Jones Act and general maritime law. Indeed, the Court recently granted certiorari and agreed to review the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in Caldwell v. St Charles Gaming, 18-868 (La. App. … Continue Reading

2019 Mississippi Milestones

By Tommy Shepherd and Zach Branson on Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Lottery, Lottery News, Sports Betting
We took a deeper dive into Mississippi’s milestones throughout 2019 and have listed those highlights below. New Biloxi casino In June, the Mississippi Gaming Commission gave site approval to what will be Biloxi’s ninth casino — Biloxi House — on the site of the former Margaritaville Casino on the Back Bay. The building, off 5th … Continue Reading

Update on Sports Wagering in Louisiana

By J. Kelly Duncan, Tommy Shepherd and Chris Ulfers on 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 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 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

Mississippi Court Rules Slot Wagering Vouchers are Gaming Debts which may be Voided if not Redeemed by Expiration Date

By Katie Hester on Posted in Casino Gaming, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Slot Machines
On January 8, 2019, in response to a patron’s appeal of a Mississippi Gaming Commission decision, the Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled that a slot voucher, a/k/a TITO, was a gaming debt under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act and that any dispute over the payment of a slot voucher was governed by the patron dispute … Continue Reading

Top “Baker’s Dozen” Mississippi Gaming Stories of 2018

By Tommy Shepherd on Posted in Casino Gaming, Government Regulation, Lottery News, Mississippi Gaming Commission, Sports Betting, Tribal Gaming
As we round the bend into 2019, we pause to reflect on the top Mississippi gaming stories of 2018. Here is our list: Out of the Shadows and Into the Light. On May 14, 2018, the United States Supreme Court issued its ruling in Christie vs. NCAA, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the … Continue Reading
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