Insights < BACK TO ALL INSIGHTS
Secrets of a Compliance and Licensing Analyst: What Clients Find Most Surprising About Applying for a Gambling License
FEATURED
February 11, 2026
Secrets of a Compliance and Licensing Analyst: What Clients Find Most Surprising About Applying for a Gambling License
By: Amanda Holi
Drawing from my experience on the front lines at Ifrah Law—a firm dedicated to the complexities of gaming and gambling-related applications—I’ve observed that even the most prepared clients can be blindsided by the sheer depth of the licensing process. To help you prepare, here are the four most common ‘surprises’ our clients encounter: Suitability is a Deep Dive, Not a Surface Check In the gambling industry, regulators operate on the principle of suitability. This means that holding a license isn’t just about following rules—it’s about proving you have the character, honesty, and integrity to be a trusted part of the ecosystem. Regulators view a license as a privilege rather than a right, meaning the burden of proof rests entirely on…
What are you looking for?
Blog Series
Real Experience. Real Results.
Stories of successfully resolved iGaming client issues and challenges.
Beyond the Approval: 3 Critical Tips for Renewing Your Gambling License
February 3, 2026
Beyond the Approval: 3 Critical Tips for Renewing Your Gambling License
By: Amanda Holi
As a former regulator, I’ve sat on the other side of the desk, reviewing hundreds of applications and watching promising applicants stumble over the same hurdles. Now, as a licensing specialist at a law firm, I help my clients avoid those “regulatory red flags” before they happen. Securing your initial license is a monumental achievement, but maintaining it is where the real work begins. In…
Prediction Markets Raising Predictable Questions of Regulation, Public Policy
January 27, 2026
Prediction Markets Raising Predictable Questions of Regulation, Public Policy
By: John Mikuta
On January 3, 2026, the United States carried out a shocking military strike against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.[i] Maduro was taken from his home in Caracas and flown to New York, where he faces narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons possession conspiracy charges.[ii] While the strike surprised most of the world, a few traders on Polymarket seemingly anticipated…
For Payment Processors: A Compliance Plan That Even Banks and Credit-Card Networks Will Love
July 24, 2020
For Payment Processors: A Compliance Plan That Even Banks and Credit-Card Networks Will Love
By: Jeffrey Hamlin
A little more than two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, striking down federal limits on the expansion of sports betting. Since then, a number of states have legalized sports betting—Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia, to name a few. Indeed, many states now permit sports betting at brick-and-mortar establishments as…
Betting Operators Look at In-House Options for Customer Leads
July 23, 2020
Betting Operators Look at In-House Options for Customer Leads
By: Steven Eichorn
Cold-pitch sales are a difficult proposition, especially when done over the Internet. The challenge is greater when competing products are similar and the barriers to entry are low, making it harder for a company to differentiate itself from the competition. So goes the case for online gaming operators who often face difficulty in attracting new users to their platform, especially when there are registration requirements…
Despite Pandemic, New Sports Gambling And Online Gaming Market Entries Proliferate
July 20, 2020
Despite Pandemic, New Sports Gambling And Online Gaming Market Entries Proliferate
By: Ifrah Law
If someone had told you at the beginning of 2020 that, by March, global sports would largely shut down, with a slow resumption not happening until the summer of 2020, you may have predicted that 2020 would be a bad year for businesses involved in sports wagering, fantasy sports, and iGaming. Yet, the rapid legalization of sports wagering across the United States has not relented,…
Virginia announces Rules and Timelines for Legalized Sports Betting.
July 15, 2020
Virginia announces Rules and Timelines for Legalized Sports Betting.
By: Ifrah Law
Today is the day that many have been eagerly awaiting; the day the Virginia Lottery’s Board discussed the state’s draft sports betting regulations. People are already comparing the draft rules to those of other states, particularly Tennessee, and Virginia appears to compare favorably. Below, we examine some of the highlights of those regulations. During the presentation, Board Chairman Ferhan Hamid asked a significant question to…
Legal Sports Betting Still Faces Competition From Illegal Market; Low State Taxes Could Turn The Tide
April 27, 2020
Legal Sports Betting Still Faces Competition From Illegal Market; Low State Taxes Could Turn The Tide
By: Ifrah Law
The following blog was first published by Forbes.com earlier this month, available here. Even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, states are moving quickly to legalize sports wagering. Indeed, just last month, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed sports betting into law in that state, in addition to the Virginia state legislature passing a bill. It is not surprising that even amidst the pandemic, states are still considering…
