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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…
Ifrah’s David Yellin Takes on Noted Attorney Paul Clement on Legality of PASPA
October 26, 2017
Ifrah’s David Yellin Takes on Noted Attorney Paul Clement on Legality of PASPA
By: Ifrah Law
Talk about a true David and Goliath story: David Yellin, an associate at Ifrah Law, recently called out Paul Clement, a true Goliath in the legal field. Unfazed by Clement’s impressive credentials – Clement boasts about his Supreme Court clerkship and his stints as Deputy Solicitor General and Solicitor General on his Kirkland & Ellis bio – Yellin challenged Clement on his interpretation of a…
Apple Decides To Clean House
October 20, 2017
Apple Decides To Clean House
By: Ifrah Law
App developers, take note: due to Apple’s latest “clean-up” project, you should review your current apps to ensure that they meet Apple’s new App Store Review Guidelines. Make sure that your app is not a clone, does not offer spam or pirated material, is up-to-date, and has a “unique feel.” What prompted Apple’s clean-up project? A personal anecdote may explain. Like many of you, I…
Stars Group Powers Up with New Video Game-Inspired Poker Game
October 19, 2017
Stars Group Powers Up with New Video Game-Inspired Poker Game
By: Ifrah Law
The gaming industry – like many others – is constantly asking: what’s next? What is the next game or platform or innovation that will attract new players? To bring in new players and fans, many traditional casino operators have shifted their focus to video game-style games, which emphasize the player’s skill and utilize more engaging graphics, characters, and story lines. In light of these new…
Supreme Court Ruling on Sports Betting Case Could Level the Playing Field
October 4, 2017
Supreme Court Ruling on Sports Betting Case Could Level the Playing Field
By: Jeff Ifrah
This month Ifrah Law submitted an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in Christie v. NCAA, a pivotal case with far reaching implications for the gaming industry and state coffers across the country. The case asks whether New Jersey can offer sports betting in regulated casinos and race tracks in New Jersey. A federal law called Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA)…
New Jersey Sports Gaming In Flux: State Moves to Regulate Daily Fantasy Sports While Legalized Sports Betting Faces Greater Hurdles
May 24, 2017
New Jersey Sports Gaming In Flux: State Moves to Regulate Daily Fantasy Sports While Legalized Sports Betting Faces Greater Hurdles
By: Ifrah Law
In a highly-anticipated brief by the Solicitor General, the United States argued today that the Supreme Court should not take up New Jersey’s challenge to federal laws preventing it from legalizing sports betting. Despite President Trump’s knowledge of, and seeming sympathy towards, the gaming industry, his Solicitor General claims that the “limited practical consequences of the question presented confirm that [the Supreme Court’s] review is…
