Our multi-disciplinary Gaming Law Team assists clients in the gaming sector with a broad range of legal concerns, including legal compliance and regulatory issues, criminal defense, civil litigation, intellectual property protection and government contracting.
The firm’s deep roots in local municipalities, as well as its ties to sophisticated global markets, lends itself to our lawyers providing the proper counsel to our gaming clients across most jurisdictions, sectors and service areas. Our gaming clients include operators of video lottery systems for government lotteries, gaming machine and software inventors, sports betting businesses, electronic sweepstakes operators, manufacturers of gaming equipment, and operators of gaming machines and gaming locations.
The gaming sector is under intense scrutiny and is constantly changing. Recent domestic and global developments are significantly changing the marketplace. The recent legalization of sports betting in the U.S. is changing the shape of that sector. In the UK, the push for protecting vulnerable gamblers has led to a drop in the maximum bets for fixed odd betting terminals dropping from £100 to £2. In this context, you need an international team of lawyers who understand both the challenges and opportunities of the sector and your business; balancing your commercial and regulatory needs.
Compliance with evolving state and federal laws regarding online/Internet gaming
Lobbying and public relations to support gaming projects
Compliance programs for gaming laws and regulations
Economic Impact Studies on new gaming initiatives
Government contracts for gaming businesses with government entities in the U.S. and around the world
Patents and patent prosecution; gaming-related patent litigation
Trademarks and Copyrights prosecution advice and litigation
Real estate, including zoning and permits for gaming businesses
Federal, state and local law enforcement issues
Civil Litigation
Criminal Defense
Corporate matters
IPO/merger/acquisition of gaming companies
Gaming legislation drafting and regulatory drafting
Gaming tax advice and tax advocacy
Advise clients on Indian Gaming Regulatory Act compliance including Class II, Class III distinctions
Gaming legislation drafting and regulatory drafting
Gaming tax advice and tax advocacy
Overview
Overview
Operating in today’s gaming sector requires a multidisciplinary legal team with real industry experience and connections. Our lawyers use their deep knowledge of gaming’s complex regulatory framework to devise strategies that advance your business goals.
We work with gaming operators, Indian gaming groups, equipment suppliers, investors, investment banks, and other entities. These clients value our broad experience, covering legal compliance and regulatory issues, litigation, intellectual property protection, environmental concerns, and government contracting.
Our gaming lawyers have been at the forefront of the sector since day one. Over the years, we’ve served as trusted legal counselors, internet gaming pioneers, educators, and influencers addressing issues in both the traditional and non-traditional gaming spaces.
Recognized as leaders in the academic field of gaming, our lawyers have taught at such prestigious institutions as the International Gaming Institute, the William F. Harrah College of Administration, and the Macau Polytechnic Institute. In addition, we maintain a broad network of relationships with gaming regulatory agencies and routinely contribute to industry publications such as Vegas Inc., Nevada Business Magazine, and Global Gaming Magazine. With Womble Bond Dickinson's deep roots in local government and connections in sophisticated global markets, we represent gaming clients across most jurisdictions, sectors, and service areas.
Core Services for an Industry In-Flux
Womble is a one-stop shop for clients seeking to execute key industry transactions, comply with gaming regulations, and resolve disputes when necessary. Our team provides counsel on virtually all aspects of the industry.
Regulatory Compliance
Compliance programs for gaming laws and regulations, including evolving state and federal laws regarding online/Internet gambling
Gaming legislation and regulatory drafting
Legislative and regulatory monitoring and adoption
Risk analysis
Regulatory Enforcement Proceedings and Appeals
Corporate services
Mergers and acquisitions
Corporate structuring
General corporate governance
Data protection and privacy policies
Federal, state, and local law enforcement issues
Financing
Gaming-specific legal issues
Interactive gaming
Licensing
Regulated commercial gaming
Economic Impact Studies on new gaming initiatives
Government relations
Contracts for businesses with U.S.-based and international government entities
Lobbying and public relations
Indian Gaming
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act compliance, including Class II and Class III distinctions
Native American law and gaming
Tribal state gaming compacts and agreements
Labor and Employment
Litigation
Real estate
Land use matters
Zoning and permits for gaming businesses
Skill games
Sweepstakes and promotions
Tax advice and advocacy
Environmental Regulatory and Compliance
Drawing on our extensive experience in federal, state, and local environmental law, we can guide you through most environmental regulatory and compliance challenges.
Air, water quality, and water discharge permits
Energy cost evaluation, usage resource planning, and utility rate case representation
Environmental due diligence considerations
Federal and state permitting approvals and compliance
Inspection and compliance reviews
Land management
Permitting issues
Preserving Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Defenses under CERCLA in compliance with Environmental Site Assessment requirements
Regulatory compliance, lobbying, and policy advice
Utilities development
Water supply
Womble Bond Dickinson Gaming Clients
We serve a diverse and growing number of participants in this sector, including non-traditional gaming clients.
Advertisers
Casino operators
Daily fantasy sports operators
Distributors
Equipment suppliers
Financiers
Investors and banks
Manufacturers
Marketing affiliates
Payment processors
Service providers
Simulcasts operators
Retail and mobile sportsbooks
Tribal governments
Non-Gaming Companies
We also provide gaming-related counsel to non-gaming companies. For example, we represent national advertising companies, payment processors, geo-location and patron identification providers, service providers, and social media platforms as they look to partner with, market, and provide services to gaming companies. These companies turn to us for advice on assessing the impact of gambling laws, structuring business deals to minimize risk and potential licensing, and maintaining compliance with gaming regulations.
Representative Experience
Served as lead counsel to a casino owner and operator which, in the span of approximately three years, has purchased four hotel/casino properties in Nevada, a publicly traded gaming company, numerous public card room operations in Washington state, a manufacturer of gaming-related equipment, and three casinos in Colorado. We provided counsel on nearly every aspect of these complex transactions, including licensing, structuring ownership and management, and financing, as well as drafting numerous ancillary agreements relating to hotel and casino operations, staffing, and vendors
Provided both interactive gaming and sports wagering counsel for a leading provider of online fantasy sports contests and sports wagering operations. We conduct comprehensive evaluations and analysis of our client’s current and proposed product offerings under applicable federal and state gambling laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia
Represented a worldwide leader in mobile eSports as lead interactive gaming counsel. The client has hosted more than 40 million mobile tournaments for players in over 180 countries. We work with the client to minimize risk concerning their service and reach maximum market exposure as a skill-based gaming service
Counsel one of the world’s top game publishers and creators as lead interactive gaming counsel. To minimize potential legal risks of the service, we assess the skill levels of games, along with the company’s methodology to identify and block games that are materially dependent upon luck or chance. As interactive gaming issues are fluid and may change by the hour, our continuous monitoring of interactive gaming issues ensures that our client stays up to date on important issues and ever-evolving state policies. We also advocate on behalf of our client with regulators, lawmakers, and other third parties in connection with the legality of skill-based gaming, from providing white papers regarding the model’s legality to drafting and commenting on proposed legislation
Retained to provide legal support for the development of a large casino in Sacramento County, California, valued at $600 million. Our work spanned working with the developer and management contractor, obtaining approval documents from the National Indian Gaming Commission, developing gaming legal infrastructure, and negotiating with local government agencies
Represented an innovator of slot machines and gaming enterprise management systems for the global gaming market, including licensing, corporate, regulatory compliance, and labor and employment
Served as counsel to a Native American tribe in the $250 million renegotiation and extension of a casino management agreement and hotel management agreement with an international casino operator and management company. We also advised the tribe on tax matters, employer control, and Indian gaming matters and assisted in negotiations with federal agencies
Represent video game manufacturers in a variety of litigation including copyright and trademark infringement, enforcement of non-compete agreements, regulatory matters, declaratory judgment actions regarding legality of games, and constitutional challenge to laws banning certain types of skill games.
Represent video lottery contractor in disputes with government lottery and competing gaming companies.
Defend criminal and civil forfeiture actions brought against gaming companies.
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