Prediction Markets Raising Predictable Questions of Regulation, Public Policy

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 that it would occur.  Polymarket, the “world’s largest prediction market,”[iii] is a platform where “people can bet on the outcome of future events” by buying and selling shares in the outcomes.[iv]  Polymarket allows users to trade on sports outcomes, economic data, business actions, pop culture, and—as relevant here—political events such as election outcomes and international…

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Stories of successfully resolved iGaming client issues and challenges.

Virginia Poised to Legalize iGaming

January 14, 2026

Virginia Poised to Legalize iGaming

By: Sara Dalsheim

There has been chatter for some time that Virginia will soon become the next state to join in on the fun of legalized iGaming. Today, House Bill 161 and Senate Bill 118 will be officially offered as proposed legislation (the bills were pre-filed on January 6, 2026). House Bill 161 will officially be introduced by Delegate (“Del.”) Marcus Simon proposing to amend and reenact the…

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The United Kingdom Institutes a Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Operators of Prize Draws

November 26, 2025

The United Kingdom Institutes a Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Operators of Prize Draws

By: John Mikuta

The United Kingdom has published a Voluntary Code of Good Practice for operators of prize draws and competitions (“PDCs”).[1]  The Code contains a wide range of key measures that operators are expected to implement to improve player safety and transparency.  Because the Code is voluntary, operators are not legally bound to abide by it.  However, dozens of operators and other relevant entities in the United…

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Will Legalized Sports Betting Save NFL Television?

September 27, 2019

Will Legalized Sports Betting Save NFL Television?

By: Jeffrey Hamlin

The growth of proposition and in-play sports betting may be just what the NFL needs to sustain a revived interest in televised games. From 2016 to 2018, the NFL experienced a two-year ratings slump when viewership decreased by 17%. Theories abound as to why ratings fell. Some point out that traditional television viewership was (and is) down generally due to younger viewers who are ditching…

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What About Gaming? The House Passes the SAFE Banking Act, Putting Cannabis Ahead of Regulated Gambling

September 26, 2019

What About Gaming? The House Passes the SAFE Banking Act, Putting Cannabis Ahead of Regulated Gambling

By: George Calhoun

The inability to secure banking services has created enormous difficulties for state level, legal cannabis industries.  Eleven states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, and a majority of states also have legal medical marijuana programs. Nonetheless, “marihuana” remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act and its sale or possession can be a federal crime.  As a…

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A Comeback Victory: Appeals Court Says Monmouth Park Owner is Entitled to Recover Damages from NCAA and Sports Leagues

September 24, 2019

A Comeback Victory: Appeals Court Says Monmouth Park Owner is Entitled to Recover Damages from NCAA and Sports Leagues

By: Ifrah Law

It has been over a year since the Supreme Court found that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was unconstitutional in Murphy v. NCAA, and countless states have legalized sports gambling in the time since, but the legal fallout from the Murphy case is still weaving its way from the courts. Early in the Murphy case, when the sports leagues and NCAA requested…

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North Carolina on the Verge of Legal Sports Betting

July 29, 2019

North Carolina on the Verge of Legal Sports Betting

By: George Calhoun

In April, I spoke to the North Carolina Bar Association concerning the future of sports betting in the state.  At the time, a bill to legalize sports betting was making its way through the legislative process.  Last week, the North Carolina legislature finally passed a bill authorizing sports wagering at the state’s two Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian casinos.  The bill explicitly adds sports betting…

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New Hampshire Federal Court Finds Wire Act Is Limited to Gambling on Sporting Events

June 4, 2019

New Hampshire Federal Court Finds Wire Act Is Limited to Gambling on Sporting Events

By: Ifrah Law

On June 3, 2019, Judge Paul Barbadoro of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire issued a 60-page opinion holding that the Wire Act is limited to sports gambling.  Judge Barbadoro’s opinion resolved litigation between the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, its service provider (NeoPollard), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), over a 2018 opinion by the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel…

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Articles and Presentations by Our Firm Attorneys

Prediction Markets Raising Predictable Questions of Regulation, Public Policy

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

Virginia Poised to Legalize iGaming

Virginia Poised to Legalize iGaming
By: Sara Dalsheim

The United Kingdom Institutes a Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Operators of Prize Draws

The United Kingdom Institutes a Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Operators of Prize Draws
By: John Mikuta

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