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
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
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
On August 31, 2018, Governor Phil Bryant signed legislation authorizing a lottery, removing Mississippi from the list of states without a lottery (now down to five jurisdictions). So, when will Mississippians be able to buy a lottery ticket? Through close analysis of the statute and anticipated procedure, it is possible to get some sense of the … Continue Reading
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
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
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
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
It is that time of the year when we take a look back and review the top stories of 2017 concerning the Mississippi gaming industry. Want to Take Any Bets? With the United States Supreme Court considering New Jersey’s appeal regarding the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, the Mississippi Gaming Commission considers preparations for … Continue Reading
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
At the October 19, 2017, meeting of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Commission approved for publication, for receipt of public comment, a proposal to amend the Commission’s regulations on institutional investors. Institutional investors under the Mississippi gaming regulations and those of other jurisdictions are certain defined banks, insurance companies, registered investment companies, registered investment advisors, … Continue Reading
Daniel Russell published an article for American Gaming Lawyer’s Autumn 2017 issue. In his article, “With the ‘Eddie Tipton Situation’ Over, What Happens Now?” Mr. Russell discusses the issues surrounding the Hot Lotto scheme and the direction of the gaming industry with regard to security. The article provides information of the legal ramifications of security breaches and … Continue Reading
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
While the appeal of the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision against New Jersey’s challenge to the Professional and Amateur Sports Act of 1992 (“PASPA”) winds its way through the U.S. Supreme Court, Mississippi has taken some important steps on the road to legal sports wagering in the state. In the 2017 Mississippi Legislative … Continue Reading
For many years, the State of Mississippi had a constitutional prohibition on lotteries. Sec. 98 of the Mississippi Constitution (adopted in 1890) stated as follows: No lottery shall ever be allowed, or be advertised by newspapers, or otherwise, or its tickets be sold in this State; and the legislature shall provide by law for the … Continue Reading
In the mid 1990s, the Mississippi Gaming Commission served as the battleground for numerous fights regarding the legality of gaming sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Many of those contests resulted in a series of cases that the Mississippi Supreme Court decided. In a set of disputes that are reminiscent of those days gone by, the Mississippi … Continue Reading
Casino gaming is, at present, not permitted in the State of Georgia. Indeed, some commentators have gone as far as to categorize Georgia as one of the three least gambling-friendly states in the nation. Yet, others believe that Georgia’s casino-gaming prohibition may soon come to an end. In fact, some legislators and commentators are of … Continue Reading
This summer, a concurrent resolution that creates a Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Task Force (“Task Force”) was adopted during the regular session of the Louisiana State Legislature. The Task Force, to be chaired by Ronnie Jones, Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, is charged with (1) studying current law and existing rules and … Continue Reading
In 1992, I got a phone call from Tony Cabot, a gaming attorney in Las Vegas. Tony asked me a question that would change my life. “Would you like to represent Grand Casinos?” he said. I responded “yes”. For the next sixteen years, until the company was merged with Park Place Entertainment Corporation in 1998, … 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
In a somewhat surprising move, the 2016 Mississippi Legislature approved a bill legalizing daily fantasy sports in the state. On May 12, 2016, Governor Phil Bryant signed the legislation with the bill becoming law effective from and after its passage. Click here for the legislation as adopted. The legislation was introduced after Mississippi Attorney General … Continue Reading
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
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