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Cases + Rulings Posts
When Sports Bettors Win, So Does the IRS
Oct 7, 2024
When Sports Bettors Win, So Does the IRS
Sports betting and adjacent industries have exploded in the United States. One area that continues to cause confusion is the taxation of these businesses – both for the companies and the individual players. For individual bettors, the IRS has clear rules on gambling income that predate the recent explosion of the sports betting industry. In…
When Gamers Become Plaintiffs – Arbitration Clauses for the Win
Feb 23, 2024
When Gamers Become Plaintiffs – Arbitration Clauses for the Win
Online businesses, including gaming companies, frequently include arbitration clauses in their “terms and conditions” or other policies when consumers register for their services. These clauses notify users that disputes will be subject to private arbitration by an appointed neutral arbitrator, usually the American Arbitration Association or JAMS. Businesses favor arbitration for several reasons, including reduced…
iGaming Company Takes on State Licensing Commission’s Rejection – Achieves Rare Victory
Nov 20, 2023
iGaming Company Takes on State Licensing Commission’s Rejection – Achieves Rare Victory
Ifrah Law’s litigation experience and broad knowledge of gaming licensing laws and procedures rescued a client from an unfair application denial, which would have frozen the company out of a major state’s market and tarnished the CEO’s reputation among licensing boards in other states. A successful iGaming company had nearly completed the rigorous registration process…
A Cautionary Tale Courtesy of Fortnite
Sep 21, 2023
A Cautionary Tale Courtesy of Fortnite
A fast-growing segment of online gaming is the in-game purchase on (sometimes free) games/apps in exchange for virtual items. The virtual items can be mere cosmetic game enhancements, features that increase a player’s likelihood of success, and many other options. Because these virtual items are purchased with real world funds, companies must be vigilant in…
Terraform Labs Ruling Reels Back Ripple Enthusiasm
Aug 4, 2023
Terraform Labs Ruling Reels Back Ripple Enthusiasm
The recent ruling in SEC v. Ripple Labs had the cryptocurrency industry standing tall. As we discussed recently, however, the Ripple ruling was less favorable – or at least less comprehensive – than it was being portrayed. Another ruling from the Southern District of New York – SEC v. Terraform Labs Pte.Ltd. and Do Hyeong…
Ripple Decision Shakes Up US Crypto
Jul 14, 2023
Ripple Decision Shakes Up US Crypto
In an apparent boon to the cryptocurrency and broader blockchain industries, a judge in the US District Court for Southern New York ruled on Thursday that Ripple Labs Inc. did not violate federal securities laws in the offering and sale of the XRP token on public exchanges, meaning that the token could be relisted on…
Circuit Court for the District of D.C. Upholds Compact: What this Means for Sports Betting in Florida
Jun 30, 2023
Circuit Court for the District of D.C. Upholds Compact: What this Means for Sports Betting in Florida
Today, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision in West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland, that will have meaningful implications for the future of online sports betting in Florida along with the interpretation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (“IGRA”). By way of background, in the spring of 2021, the State…
Critical Crypto-Securities Issue May Soon Come to a Head in SEC v. Ripple
Feb 8, 2023
Critical 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…
Florida Sports Betting Opponents and Government Stakeholders Head to Oral Argument in Federal Appellate Court
Dec 15, 2022
Florida 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.
Four States Coordinate Against Metaverse Casino’s NFT Sales
Oct 25, 2022
Four 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…
