Karl F. Rutledge

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.