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A Ticket to Win: Are Travel Points a Thing of Value?
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August 21, 2026
A Ticket to Win: Are Travel Points a Thing of Value?
By: Abbey Block
With the end of summer drawing near, many American families may be hoping to book a last-minute getaway. Some of those travelers may be hoping to take advantage of credit card points to book their trips on the cheap. Credit card points have become a ubiquitous part of American capitalism – particularly those offered by airlines, often referred to as “travel points.” According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer’s travel season was “powered” by more than “$38 billion” worth of credit card-powered travel points. Given the increasing popularity with which folks are accumulating and using these travel points, gaming companies may be wondering if there’s a way for them to get in on the action and asking whether their…
Advertising Prediction Markets? The CFTC Just Sent a Clear Message to Affiliates.
August 17, 2026
Advertising Prediction Markets? The CFTC Just Sent a Clear Message to Affiliates.
By: Kyra Pulliam
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) recently issued guidance directed to designated contract markets (DCMs) concerning the marketing and offering of event contracts. The guidance was addressed to DCMs because no swap execution facilities (SEFs) currently list event contracts. However, the CFTC’s analysis is equally applicable to futures commission merchants (FCMs) and introducing brokers (IBs), as well as the advertising affiliates and marketing partners that…
CFTC Sends Message to Prediction Markets: You Are Not a Sportsbook
August 11, 2026
CFTC Sends Message to Prediction Markets: You Are Not a Sportsbook
By: John Mikuta
In recent guidance, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) has made clear that event contracts offered by regulated prediction-market entities must not be marketed in a format commonly used by casino gambling bookmakers. The CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight and Market Participants Division issued a notice to all CFTC-regulated entities and affiliates regarding their obligations to refrain from engaging in misleading or deceptive practices when…
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…
Betting on Transparency
March 10, 2020
Betting on Transparency
By: James Trusty
Professional sports leagues are struggling to take coherent and consistent positions on the emerging market for legalized sports betting. Commissioners are issuing edicts to their leagues about the danger gambling poses to their sport, but they are also beginning to officially partner with the gaming industry due to the promising bottom-line impact and growing acceptance of sports betting in general. Their wobbling between moral opposition…
For the Children! Seeking to Advance Special Interests Against Online Gaming Under the Guise of Child Welfare
March 9, 2020
For the Children! Seeking to Advance Special Interests Against Online Gaming Under the Guise of Child Welfare
By: Nicole Kardell
Want an example of legislative redundancy? Here’s a good one: “The Prevention of Deceptive or Child-Targeted Advertising in Violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.” It’s proposed legislation seeking to justify new legislation to make that which is illegal… illegaler? Or, want an example of legislation that uses children’s welfare as a pretense to achieve some outside goal with less public appeal? You can…
“What are we supposed to do? Call the cops? It’s already out there!”: Recent MGM hack exemplifies the uncontainable results of a data breach
February 21, 2020
“What are we supposed to do? Call the cops? It’s already out there!”: Recent MGM hack exemplifies the uncontainable results of a data breach
By: Nicole Kardell
A hacker has posted to a public forum the personal details for more than 10.6 million former hotel guests of MGM Resorts. Information now available for all to see includes: full names, home addresses, phone numbers, emails, and dates of birth. Making it most newsworthy is that the likes of Justin Bieber, Jack Dorsey (Twitter’s billionaire CEO), among other celebs, prominent business folks, and government…
