Secrets of a Compliance and Licensing Analyst: What Clients Find Most Surprising About Applying for a Gambling License

Secrets of a Compliance and Licensing Analyst: What Clients Find Most Surprising About Applying for a Gambling License

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…

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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…

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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…

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Michigan Sets the Stage for Legal Sports Betting

December 10, 2019

Michigan Sets the Stage for Legal Sports Betting

By: Ifrah Law

Michigan is looking to go into 2020 with the prospect of sports betting and online gaming looming large. The Great Lakes State’s legislators reached a breakthrough this week with Governor Whitmer on online gaming and sports betting.  While a few issues remain to be ironed out, it appears that Michigan will enter the new year with the two new bills freshly inked. Michigan is in…

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Why is Player Betting a Cardinal Sin?

December 2, 2019

Why is Player Betting a Cardinal Sin?

By: James Trusty

Arizona Cardinal cornerback Josh Shaw has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league’s blanket prohibition against betting on all things NFL.  Shaw, who will miss at least the full 2020 season, had been on injured reserve since late August and had not played a down this year.  The silver lining for Shaw’s grey cloud is that he joins the ranks of Paul…

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Legal Sports Betting Arrives in The Centennial State

November 7, 2019

Legal Sports Betting Arrives in The Centennial State

By: Ifrah Law

Yesterday, Colorado voters narrowly approved a sports betting referendum, establishing Colorado as a sports betting leader in the Mountain West. The referendum was a long time coming, with the bill allowing the referendum to go forward having been passed last May.  Signed by Governor Polis on May 29, House Bill 1327 placed a referendum on November’s ballot that would legalize sports betting at three existing…

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NCAA Announces Groundbreaking Decision to Allow Compensation for College Athletes

October 30, 2019

NCAA Announces Groundbreaking Decision to Allow Compensation for College Athletes

By: Steven Eichorn

Yesterday, the NCAA Board of Governors unanimously voted to allow college athletes to receive some form of compensation.The permitted compensation is limited to “the opportunity to benefit from the use of their name, image, and likeness,” however, athletes will still not be permitted to receive compensation for their actual on-field play. To view the official NCAA Release, Click Here The concession to allow some form…

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Google Advances the Ball for Online Gaming in the U.S., With a Boost from Sports Betting

October 23, 2019

Google Advances the Ball for Online Gaming in the U.S., With a Boost from Sports Betting

By: Nicole Kardell

Google is planning to unblock online casino advertisements in the regulated U.S. gambling market in early 2020, according to a . The lift on casino ads in markets where it is legalized and regulated should help the industry get traction, boost revenues, and pave the way for other states to come online. Importantly, it should also help offset the imbalance between (1) nascent legal, regulated…

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Articles and Presentations by Our Firm Attorneys

Secrets of a Compliance and Licensing Analyst: What Clients Find Most Surprising About Applying for a Gambling License

Secrets of a Compliance and Licensing Analyst: What Clients Find Most Surprising About Applying for a Gambling License
By: Amanda Holi

Beyond the Approval: 3 Critical Tips for Renewing Your Gambling License

Beyond the Approval: 3 Critical Tips for Renewing Your Gambling License
By: Amanda Holi

Prediction Markets Raising Predictable Questions of Regulation, Public Policy

Prediction Markets Raising Predictable Questions of Regulation, Public Policy
By: John Mikuta

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