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CFTC Withdraws Specialized Guidance On Cryptocurrency Derivatives
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March 31, 2025
CFTC Withdraws Specialized Guidance On Cryptocurrency Derivatives
By: Jake Gray
In line with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) transformation from cryptocurrency enemy to ally, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) is now following its sister agency’s lead. By withdrawing its specialized guidance on digital currency derivatives, the CFTC signals a more hospitable regulatory approach to the industry, one that recognizes the growing maturity and mainstream acceptance of digital asset markets. As of March 28, 2025, both CFTC Staff Advisory No. 18-14 and the subsequent 2023 guidance, CFTC Staff Advisory No. 23-07, have been officially withdrawn, marking a clear departure from the agency’s previous cautionary stance.[1][2] What’s In the Advisories The CFTC’s first digital asset advisory, Letter No. 18-14, came in 2018 when digital asset derivatives products and their spot…
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Sweepstakes Issues Draw Focus at Next.io Summit
March 27, 2025
Sweepstakes Issues Draw Focus at Next.io Summit
By: Jordan Briggs
Social casinos were one of the many hot topics at the Next.io summit in New York March 12-13, so much so that they got their own well-attended summit on March 11. Generally, there are three types of online social casinos: social casinos with no option to purchase any plays; social casinos with the option to purchase plays and the only thing a user can win…
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…
Ifrah Law on NFTs: Blockchain Gaming and Gambling Compliance
February 9, 2022
Ifrah Law on NFTs: Blockchain Gaming and Gambling Compliance
By: Jake Gray
In the first article of this series, we covered the basics of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”)—unique virtual items recorded with immutable characteristics on the blockchain. We also introduced the concept of Utility NFTs, which are NFTs that serve some function beyond their value as collectibles. Part II in our series highlights newly developing applications of Utility NFTs in the online gaming space, with a focus on…
Ifrah Law on NFTs: What is an NFT?
February 7, 2022
Ifrah Law on NFTs: What is an NFT?
By: Jake Gray
It would be hard to over-exaggerate the hype that has grown around non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) over the past year as a result of the meteoric rise of Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other blockchain-based technologies. NFT sales skyrocketed in 2021 to $25 billion, a colossal increase from $94.9 million in 2020. [1] And the number of unique cryptocurrency wallets trading NFTs rose from 545,000 in 2020 to…
Ohio Sports Betting Advertising and Marketing Affiliate Guidance
February 1, 2022
Ohio Sports Betting Advertising and Marketing Affiliate Guidance
By: Sara Dalsheim
On January 31, 2022, Ohio Casino Control Commission (“Commission”) released its third batch of draft rules for legal sports wagering. So far, none of the Commission’s batches of rules have discussed requirements for marketing affiliates. Although, the Commission also released on January 31, 2022, a Sports Gaming FAQs page on their website[1], which dedicates an entire section to “Advertising, Marketing and User Recruitment”. The last…
Maryland Sports Betting Bill Moving Ahead, Includes Preferences for Minority Owned Operators
January 28, 2022
Maryland Sports Betting Bill Moving Ahead, Includes Preferences for Minority Owned Operators
By: George Calhoun
Sports betting is now legal in Maryland. As part of the 2020 election, Maryland voters approved a Constitutional amendment to allow sports betting. The Maryland legislature is now racing to legalize and regulate sports gambling in the state. On February 2nd, 2021, the Maryland House of Delegates released a sports betting bill that would create a new Sports Wagering Application Commission to evaluate both online…
D.C. Becomes First Place in U.S. to Legalize Online Poker
January 28, 2022
D.C. Becomes First Place in U.S. to Legalize Online Poker
By: Ifrah Law
April 7, 2011 saw a historic moment in igaming as the District of Columbia became the first American jurisdiction to enact a law that allows online poker wagering. The amendment, called the “Lottery Modernization Act of 2010” for the year it was introduced, is part of a larger budget bill passed by the D.C. Council in December 2010 and enacted after passing through Congress unblocked….
