Ifrah Law on Web3: Origins of the Web
In parts (1) and (2) of this series, we’ll cover the basics of the Web and aspects of its technical history up to the present, and then discuss how Web3 technologists are trying to revolutionize the Web in its current iteration by solving its characteristic problems, respectively. In the following parts, (3) and (4), we’ll…
Read MoreCritical Crypto-Securities Issue May Soon Come to a Head in SEC v. Ripple
This work was originally published in Business Law Today for the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section. A lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) against Ripple Labs, Inc. (“Ripple Labs”), creator of the popular cryptocurrency token known as XRP, represents a turning point for the cryptocurrency and wider blockchain-technology industries in their…
Read MoreHow Regulated Sportsbooks Can Ensure Sports Integrity: A Case Study from the Recent UFC Scandal
In the four years since the Supreme Court struck down the federal law prohibiting state-regulated sports betting in Murphy v. NCAA (2018), more than 30 states have legalized and are regulating sports betting in some capacity. Indeed, since the ruling, the nascent US sports betting industry enjoys rapid growth, especially in states where retail, mobile,…
Read MoreFlorida Sports Betting Opponents and Government Stakeholders Head to Oral Argument in Federal Appellate Court
This week’s oral argument in West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland is the latest step in the dispute over whether the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida can offer online sports betting throughout the state and not just on tribal land.
Read MoreMassachusetts Lessens Licensing Burden on Marketing Affiliates… For Now
On December 1, 2022, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (“MGC”) held an Open Meeting to discuss a number of items ahead of the upcoming launch of retail sports wagering and later launch of online sports wagering. Of particular note was a topic brought up by the Director of the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau, Loretta Lillios, requesting…
Read MoreFour States Coordinate Against Metaverse Casino’s NFT Sales
On Thursday, October 20th, state securities regulators from Alabama, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Texas filed coordinated enforcement actions to stop sales of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) by an organization in the country of Georgia. The actions accuse Slotie NFT (“Slotie”) of “illegally and fraudulently selling NFTs to raise capital relating to gaming in online and metaverse…
Read MoreMaryland’s Diversity Plan Requirement for Sports Betting Licensees
The road to the launch of legalized sports betting in Maryland has been long and winding. From the start Maryland has been keen on developing requirements for diversity inclusion in its sports betting operations. Today, the State looks to finalize a positive step in that direction by holding a vote to approve a new “Diversity…
Read MoreStates Rush to Protect Consumers From Cyber Threats as Gaming Legislation Moves Across All States
In the four years since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, more than 36 states and the District of Columbia have launched legal sports betting markets, with more than half of legalized states offering online and mobile options. [1] In most markets that offer online and mobile sports betting, the…
Read MoreNext Steps Toward Legalized Online and Retail Sports Betting in Massachusetts
The road to legalized sports betting in Massachusetts has been slow and lengthy, the lawmakers have spent five sessions on the question of sports betting legalization. Today, the Massachusetts state House and Senate reached an agreement on a bill that would legalize online and retail sports betting on professional and some collegiate contests (H 5164). …
Read MoreEuropean Union Agrees On Cryptocurrency Regulation, Excludes NFTs (For Now)
European Union policymakers have taken the next step toward enacting a scheme for regulating cryptocurrency and other blockchain-based assets, as the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament provisionally agreed to approve new rules governing Markets in Crypto-Assets (“MiCA”). The new rules would address a range of risks related to cryptocurrencies and related…
Read More