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Rules Matter Even for the Pat McAfee’s of the World
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November 4, 2026
Rules Matter Even for the Pat McAfee’s of the World
By: Sara Dalsheim
Former NFL punter and now ESPN analyst/commentator Pat McAfee is constantly garnering attention for his flashy takes and fun interviews. Most recently, he has also gained the attention of college football fans and students via his weekly “Kicking Is Easy” contest segment on ESPN’s wildly popular “College Gameday” – where McAfee gives away $1 million, and sometimes even more, to one college student who successfully kicks a 33-yard field goal.[1] As is common with McAfee, the giveaway has started a lot of online chatter, because of both the large prize and the big personality connected to it. Questions have arisen such as what exactly is the prize, who pays the prize, and how is the participant is chosen, among…
Prediction Markets at a Crossroads: Licensing, Compliance, and Future(s)
October 20, 2026
Prediction Markets at a Crossroads: Licensing, Compliance, and Future(s)
By: Kyra Pulliam
Last week I had the honor of attending the inaugural PREDICT Conference hosted by DealFlow Events in New York City. This event should not be confused with the NEXTPredict Summit, taking place October 22-23, or Predict 2026, scheduled for December 7-9, both of which will also be held in New York. If the growing number of prediction market conferences borders on excessive, it is easy…
Problem Gaming or Problem Industry Players?
October 14, 2026
Problem Gaming or Problem Industry Players?
By: Michelle Cohen
Over the summer, I attended the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (“NCPG”) annual conference in Nashville. NCPG is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the harms associated with problem gambling. NCPG is a membership-supported organization whose members include major gaming companies, professional sports leagues, nonprofit organizations, and state government regulatory agencies. In Nashville, I learned from various stakeholders, including doctors, therapists, and individuals…
YouTube Fills Federal Policing Void on Gambling
March 17, 2025
YouTube Fills Federal Policing Void on Gambling
By: Sara Dalsheim
The ultimate inhibitor of the regulated gambling industry is the illegal ever-present offshore market. The regulated industry has been consistently asking for assistance from law enforcement to assist them in stamping out the illegal market – that, unlike the regulated industry, is not required to abide by any of the mechanisms that protect consumers. The federal government has failed to answer the call, so the…
Seismic Shift on Lottery Courier Services in Texas
February 25, 2025
Seismic Shift on Lottery Courier Services in Texas
By: Ifrah Law
On Monday, February 24, the Texas Lottery Commission’s Executive Director, Ryan Mindell, announced that the Commission was exercising its discretionary authority under the State Lottery Act to keep the Texas Lottery honest, secure, and fair “by prohibiting lottery ticket courier services,” effective immediately. The Commission plans to give effect to the prohibition through administrative adjudication and notice-and-comment rulemaking. Mindell conveyed the news in a Policy…
The Gambling Industry’s Regulatory Lessons for Cryptocurrency
February 24, 2025
The Gambling Industry’s Regulatory Lessons for Cryptocurrency
By: Sara Dalsheim
While most of American population has mixed feelings on the results of the 2024 election; the cryptocurrency (“crypto”) industry does not. Crypto companies made up one-third of all direct corporate contributions to political action committees, and it resulted in 85% of all winning congressional candidates being supporters of the crypto industry. So, what does the win mean? Likely, a clear regulatory authority and rules over…
Crypto’s Gamble Pays Off: SEC Enforcement Stalls Under Trump Administration
February 21, 2025
Crypto’s Gamble Pays Off: SEC Enforcement Stalls Under Trump Administration
By: Jake Gray
The cryptocurrency industry’s political bet on Trump appears to be paying early dividends in his administration’s first month. The Securities Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rapid pivot–reorganizing its enforcement units and pausing major crypto litigation–signals a dramatic shift in the agency’s approach to digital asset regulation. In the past, we have analyzed several enforcement actions by the SEC against cryptocurrency companies that issued their own tokens. Our…
The Election Betting Experiment: Will Congress Rebottle This Genie?
January 8, 2025
The Election Betting Experiment: Will Congress Rebottle This Genie?
By: Jake Gray
Just this fall, Americans in all 50 states were able to put their money where they mouth was on the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election—what many news outlets call, and even one platform itself has called, election betting. Betting, notably, is not legal in all 50 states. Before the Supreme Court’s ruling, sports betting was largely prohibited nationwide under PASPA, with only Nevada and…
