
Karl Rutledge is the former chair of the Commercial Gaming Group and current managing partner of the firm’s Nevada offices. He focuses on land-based and Internet gaming as well as promotional marketing, with a particular emphasis on eSports, skill-based contests, sports betting, social gaming, sweepstakes, official rules, and terms and conditions.
Risk analysis and creative business structuring are keys to pursuing new offerings. Karl helps established and emerging companies operate legally in the U.S. under state and federal gaming and sweepstakes laws. Karl also serves as an ongoing advocate for his clients and their gaming interests. He often interfaces with gaming regulators, social media platforms, advertisers, and payment processors to present his clients’ positions as to why they constitute a lawful operation.
Karl is the immediate past chair of the Gaming Law Committee of the American Bar Association Business Law Section.
Karl is an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, where he teaches “Gaming Industry Regulation.”
Karl has been featured in Global Gaming Business Magazine as an emerging leader in the gaming industry, recognized in Best Lawyers in America and holds an "AV/Preeminent Attorney" rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
Karl recently co-authored a chapter for the Nevada Gaming Law Practice and Procedure Manual published by the State Bar of Nevada, a first of its kind reference/research tool for gaming and non-gaming practitioners.
Karl's wide variety of gaming/promotional experience includes:
- eSports
- Sports betting
- Skill-based contests
- Sweepstakes
- Bonding and registration of sweepstakes
- Social gaming
- Risk assessment
- Official rules
- Compliance plans
- Privacy policies
- Loyalty/rewards programs
- End-user license agreements (EULA)
- Terms and conditions of use
- Drafting federal and state gaming legislation
- Various other issues relating to gaming, promotional marketing, and brand development
Karl's perspective is enhanced by his years of experience in successfully guiding clients through gaming industry regulations. He is an advocate and a proactive collaborator focused on advancing his clients' goals under state and federal policies. Karl is known for his unmatched knowledge of the industry and his ability to assess risks quickly and anticipate and avoid costly matters. Clients recognize Karl's willingness to ask the tough questions while they're ahead and value his ability to adjust to their needs while meeting and surpassing all restrictions.
Karl has always been passionate about entertainment, and his prior work was no different. Before becoming a lawyer, Karl worked as a rodeo clown and bullfighter and now, during his free time, raises bucking bulls and commercial cattle on his family’s ranch in Montana.
Professional & Civic Engagement
- Executive Committee of the Gaming Law Section of the Nevada State Bar, Member
- UNLV Boyd School of Law, Gaming Law Advisory Board Member
- Clark County Bar Association, Member
- Young Gaming Lawyer in Nevada of the International Masters of Gaming Law IMGL, Affiliated Member
- American Bar Associations Business Law Section, Member
- American Bar Associations Gaming Law Committee, Former Director
- Nevada State Bar, Gaming Law Section, Executive Committee Member
Honors & Awards
- Nevada Business Magazine, Southern Nevada's Top Rank Attorneys, 2024
- Trailblazers - Sports/Gaming/Entertainment Law, The National Law Journal, 2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Aiken, S.C., Gaming Law, 2012-2025
- Chambers USA, Sports Law: Esports, Nationwide, 2023-2024
- Chambers USA, Gaming & Licensing, Nationwide, 2019-2024
- Chambers USA, Gaming & Licensing, Nevada, 2021-2024
- Vegas Inc., Top Lawyers, Gaming, 2020-2024
- Vegas Inc., 40 Under 40, 2019
- Mountain States Super Lawyers, Gaming, 2010-2012, 2014-2016 (Rising Star), 2019-2024 (Super Lawyer)
- The Best Lawyers in America - Lawyer of the Year, Woodward/White, Aiken, S.C., Gaming Law, 2021
- Global Gaming Magazine, Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40, 2019-2020 Class
- Las Vegas Sun - Vegas Inc.'s "40 Under 40," 2019
- Nevada Business Magazine, Legal Elite 2011 "Top 100 Attorneys in Southern Nevada", 2014 "Top 20 Up and Coming Attorneys in Nevada", Gaming, Internet Gaming and Contests & Sweepstakes, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018-2019
- Martindale-Hubbell, "AV/Preeminent Attorney" rating
Thought Leadership
- Co-Author, "Gambling Laws and Regulations USA - Nevada 2025," The International Comparative Legal Guide, November 2024
- Co-Author, "What to Know about NV’s ACES Initiative Regarding Technology Approval," GGB News, December 25, 2023
- Co-Author, "Analyzing the Nevada Gaming Commission’s New Cybersecurity Rules," GGB News, December 10, 2023
- "The International Comparative Legal Guide - Gambling 2024: USA-Nevada Chapter," The International Comparative Legal Guide, November 28, 2023
- Quoted, "Sports Betting Raises Legal Concerns for Employers," SHRM, February 23, 2023
- Co-Author, "The Rise of Third-Party Esports Wagering," Global Gaming Business Magazine, December 1, 2022
- Co-Author, "Pitfalls To Avoid In Social Media Sweepstakes Promotion," Law360, November 2, 2022
- Presenter, "Keeping Your Online Contests and Sweepstakes Legal," Webinar, September 21, 2022
- Quoted, "Once You Get Hit, All the Nervousness is Gone," Super Lawyers - Mountain States 2022, July 2022
- Presenter, "Arizona Last Chance CLE," June 28, 2022
- "The International Comparative Legal Guide - Gambling 2022: USA-Nevada Chapter," The International Comparative Legal Guide, November 19, 2021
- "California Gambling Lawsuits Against Apple," Nevada Gaming Lawyer, September 2021
- "5 Things to Know Before Launching a Sweepstakes Promotion," Phoenix Business Journal, June 8, 2021
- Panelist, "Legal Regulations of eSports Wagering," Casino eSports Virtual Conference 2020, September 29, 2020
- Panelist, "Sweepstakes, Contests and Giveaways: How Business Lawyers Can Avoid Traps, Pitfalls, and Giving Bad Advice," American Bar Association - Business Law Section 2020 Annual Meeting, September 23, 2020
- Co-Author, "Online Social Casinos Gain in Importance Thanks to COVID-19," Casino Journal, April 20, 2020
- Contributor, "The Law of Regulated Gambling: A Practical Guide for Business Lawyers," American Bar Association, February 1, 2020
- Co-Author, "The ICLG 2020 Gambling Laws and Regulations - USA - Nevada," ICLG.com, November 1, 2019
- Speaker, "Sports and Online Betting," ACC Nevada November 2019 CLE Luncheon, November 2019
- Panelist, "Online Gaming and Sports Betting in the United States: A Moving Target," 2019 ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 12, 2019
- Panelist, "Envisioning eSports as a Part of a U.S. Sportsbook," Casino eSports Conference, September 5, 2019
- Co-Author, "Extension of Play Constituting a Prize," Nevada Gaming Lawyer, September 1, 2019
- Moderator, "The Proliferation of Sports Betting in the US - What Are the Issues and Effects?" ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting 2019, March 2019
- Co-Author, "Nevada Gaming Control Board Takes A Stand Against Sexual Harassment," Clark County Bar Association, Communique, March 1, 2019
- Adjunct Professor, "Gaming Industry Regulation Course," William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, UNLV, Fall Semester 2017-2019
- Quoted, "Nevada Sports Books Prepare for Out-of-State Betting," Bloomberg Tax, October 26, 2018
- Presenter, "Sports Wagering - Issues and Widespread Effects of Christie Decision," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2018
- Co-Author, "Roundtable Discussion From the Experts: Debating Skill vs. Chance," Gaming Law Review, June 15, 2018
- Panelist, "Regulatory Markets: eSports, Daily Fantasy Sports, Virtual Games as Regulated Gaming," IMGL Spring Conference/ABA Law Minefield, March 2018
- Co-Author, "Nevada Opens Its Doors - US State Becomes More Accessible for Manufacturers of Gaming Devices and Content With Assembly Bill 75," InterGaming Magazine, November 14, 2017
- Presenter, "Your Client’s Online Activities and the Law: A Case Study of Typical Cyber Law, Intellectual Property and Promotional Gaming Violations Facing Companies Today," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2017
- Co-Author, "Don't Run Afoul of Gaming Laws in Offering Sweepstakes and Contests," Docket, June 5, 2017
- Author, "Why A "Mundane" Online Promotion May Have Not So Mundane Gambling Consequences," DRI, May 16, 2017
- Co-Author, "Legal Issues for Nevada Business Related to the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana," American Gaming Lawyer, May 15, 2017
- Mentioned, "Rutledge named Gaming Law Committee Chair of ABA Business Law Section," American Gaming Lawyer, May 15, 2017
- Author, "All Bets Are Off: Managing Your Online Promotions," Public Relations Tactics, May 1, 2017
- Co-Author, "Licensing: Nonrestricted, Restricted, and Slot Machine Route Operators," Nevada Gaming law Practice and Procedure Manual, Publications Committee of the State Bar of Nevada, Gaming Law Section of the State Bar of Nevada, December 8, 2016
- Presenter, "State vs. Federal Issues: Part II," UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, October 26, 2016
- Presenter, "State vs. Federal Issues," UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, October 24, 2016
- Co-Author, "eSports: An Exponentially Growing Market, But Not Without Risk," American Gaming Lawyer, October 12, 2016
- Speaker, "Legal pitfalls associated with Online Sweepstakes and Contests," ACC Nevada, September 29, 2016
- Panelist, "Online Activities - Your Clients Cause Perilous Pitfalls without Suitable Guidance", ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2016
- Co-Author, "Things Corporate Counsel Should be Aware of Regarding Offering Sweepstakes and Contests," Association of Corporate Counsel, September 1, 2016
- Co-Author, "Entity Wagering: A New Twist on the Old Adage of Being in the Business of Betting or Wagering," American Gaming Lawyer, April 1, 2016
- Presenter, "State vs. Federal Issues," UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, October 12th and 14th, 2015
- Panelist, "Why Your Corporate Clients’ Mundane Online Presence May Trigger Several Not So Mundane Consequences," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2015
- Speaker, "Potential Legal Pitfalls Associated With Online Sweepstakes & Contests," American Marketing Association Las Vegas Chapter Luncheon, August 2015
- Speaker, "Social Gaming and Virtual Currency, Their Growth, Status and Potential," ABA Business Law Section’s Spring Conference, 2015
- Speaker, "The Morphing of Social Gaming, Fantasy Sports and Sweepstakes into Gaming" Gaming Law Minefield 2015, February 2015