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High Wire Act
FEATURED
September 22, 2026
High Wire Act
By: James Trusty
The federal statute known as the Wire Act (18 U.S.C. § 1084) has had a tumultuous history. For many years, the DOJ interpreted it to include restrictions on both sporting events and non-sporting contests. That changed dramatically in 2011, when the Office of Legal Counsel (“OLC”), responding to states seeking clarification before establishing state lotteries, published an analysis of the Wire Act. After a thorough analysis of the text and legislative history of the Wire Act, OLC concluded that Congress intended the Wire Act to apply only to sports-based gambling activity. 35 Op.O.L.C. 1(2011).[1] In reaching that conclusion, OLC found that Congress had clearly and directly focused upon off-track betting on horse races, as well as the expected negative effect…
Robert Ward on Helping iGaming Clients Outmaneuver Lawsuit-Obsessed Adversaries
September 8, 2026
Robert Ward on Helping iGaming Clients Outmaneuver Lawsuit-Obsessed Adversaries
By: Ifrah Law
Today’s iGaming companies face new litigation threats as expansive consumer protection statutes spark lawsuits with sky’s-the-limit aspirations, sometimes backed by private funders. Clients of Ifrah Law have a staunch defender in Robert Ward – an agile litigator and case tactician who responds to the changing state of play with creative legal defenses and efficient case-closing strategies. Robert draws on federal clerkship experience and appellate defense…
In the Market for Judicial Review: Circuit Split on CFTC Preemption Makes SCOTUS a Predictable Destination
September 1, 2026
In the Market for Judicial Review: Circuit Split on CFTC Preemption Makes SCOTUS a Predictable Destination
By: John Mikuta
The ongoing legal battle over whether the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or state regulators have the authority to regulate sports-related prediction markets is heating up. Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit turned away a challenge by Kalshi, the largest prediction market in the United States, to the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s letter ordering it to cease and desist…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
