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Maryland’s Ever-Changing Gaming Landscape: Evolution, Adaptation, and Legal Tension
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March 23, 2026
Maryland’s Ever-Changing Gaming Landscape: Evolution, Adaptation, and Legal Tension
By: Abbey Block
Maryland’s Ever-Changing Gaming Landscape: Evolution, Adaptation, and Legal Tension Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the 3rd annual Town Hall Meeting, hosted by Morgan State University’s Center for Data Analytics and Sports Gaming Research and National Council of Legislators from Gaming States and participate in a lively discussion about the ever-changing face of gambling. Our panel covered the latest and greatest developments in the gaming industry, including prediction markets, sweepstakes, and iGaming, with particular attention to the way in which the developments in these areas are impacting Maryland’s gaming industry. In case you couldn’t attend, below are the highlights of the discussion. Prediction Markets – The Latest Model Under the Spotlight To understand why prediction markets have…
Major League Development: CFTC and MLB Agree to Monitor the Integrity of Prediction Markets
March 19, 2026
Major League Development: CFTC and MLB Agree to Monitor the Integrity of Prediction Markets
By: John Mikuta
In a watershed moment for the prediction market industry, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Major League Baseball (“MLB”) today. According to the CFTC’s press release, the groundbreaking agreement “establishes a framework for the CFTC and MLB to discuss, cooperate, and exchange information concerning issues of common interest including protecting the integrity of professional baseball and the relating…
Jim Trusty on Smart Legal Moves for Clients Under Pressure
March 18, 2026
Jim Trusty on Smart Legal Moves for Clients Under Pressure
By: Ifrah Law
A veteran federal prosecutor and formidable white-collar litigator, Jim Trusty clears a lane for clients facing a gauntlet of criminal charges, civil actions, investigations, and regulatory proceedings. From professional athletes facing sports wagering accusations or indictments, to gaming companies and executives involved in regulatory or white-collar matters, clients rely on Jim’s legal strategy, political savvy, and prosecutorial insights when the stakes are highest. Protecting iGaming…
After Legislature Acts, Delaware Ready to Become 2nd State to Legalize Online Gaming
June 29, 2012
After Legislature Acts, Delaware Ready to Become 2nd State to Legalize Online Gaming
By: Ifrah Law
Delaware is now poised to become the second state to legalize online gaming. On Wednesday, that state’s Senate passed a bill that would legalize web table games, including poker, video lottery games, and traditional lottery games to be offered online. Democratic Governor Jack Markell supports the bill and is expected to sign it into law soon. Earlier in the month the bill passed the state’s…
New York Mah Jong Ruling May Help Cause of Online Poker
January 29, 2012
New York Mah Jong Ruling May Help Cause of Online Poker
By: Rachel Hirsch
Mah Jong, the ancient Chinese tile-based table game, can now count itself as a winner in the old debate of games of skill vs. games of chance, according to a New York state judge, who recently ruled that the game demands more than luck. On January 4, 2012, Criminal Court Judge John H. Wilson declared in People v. Feng that “the court declines to declare…
New DOJ Opinion Paves Way to Legal Online Poker
December 26, 2011
New DOJ Opinion Paves Way to Legal Online Poker
By: Ifrah Law
On December 23, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that it has reversed a long-held position by stating that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting. This marks a major change in policy for DOJ, which has long contended that the Wire Act prohibits all forms of Internet gambling, including poker. Late that day, the DOJ released a 13-page legal opinion dated September…
Illinois Court Ruling Upholds State’s New Video Gaming Act
August 2, 2011
Illinois Court Ruling Upholds State’s New Video Gaming Act
By: Ifrah Law
In a 7-0 decision, the Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld legislation that will allow video gaming in the state for the first time. Earlier this month, the court ruled in favor of the Illinois legislature’s 2009 omnibus bill for funding capital projects that included the Video Gaming Act. The legislation had been challenged by Chicago Blackhawks owner and liquor distributor Rockwell Wirtz as violating the…
Massachusetts Cracks Down on Gambling at Internet Cafes
July 15, 2011
Massachusetts Cracks Down on Gambling at Internet Cafes
By: Ifrah Law
Last month, citing evidence that illegal gambling was going on at “Internet cafés” throughout the state, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued a new permanent regulation banning gambling at such places. The regulation bans the operation of establishments “where a gambling purpose predominates over the bona fide sale of bona fide goods or services” – in this case, cyber cafés and phone card video game terminals….
