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Rules Matter Even for the Pat McAfee’s of the World
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November 4, 2026
Rules Matter Even for the Pat McAfee’s of the World
By: Sara Dalsheim
Former NFL punter and now ESPN analyst/commentator Pat McAfee is constantly garnering attention for his flashy takes and fun interviews. Most recently, he has also gained the attention of college football fans and students via his weekly “Kicking Is Easy” contest segment on ESPN’s wildly popular “College Gameday” – where McAfee gives away $1 million, and sometimes even more, to one college student who successfully kicks a 33-yard field goal.[1] As is common with McAfee, the giveaway has started a lot of online chatter, because of both the large prize and the big personality connected to it. Questions have arisen such as what exactly is the prize, who pays the prize, and how is the participant is chosen, among…
Prediction Markets at a Crossroads: Licensing, Compliance, and Future(s)
October 20, 2026
Prediction Markets at a Crossroads: Licensing, Compliance, and Future(s)
By: Kyra Pulliam
Last week I had the honor of attending the inaugural PREDICT Conference hosted by DealFlow Events in New York City. This event should not be confused with the NEXTPredict Summit, taking place October 22-23, or Predict 2026, scheduled for December 7-9, both of which will also be held in New York. If the growing number of prediction market conferences borders on excessive, it is easy…
Problem Gaming or Problem Industry Players?
October 14, 2026
Problem Gaming or Problem Industry Players?
By: Michelle Cohen
Over the summer, I attended the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (“NCPG”) annual conference in Nashville. NCPG is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the harms associated with problem gambling. NCPG is a membership-supported organization whose members include major gaming companies, professional sports leagues, nonprofit organizations, and state government regulatory agencies. In Nashville, I learned from various stakeholders, including doctors, therapists, and individuals…
Trust the Future You Trade: Lessons About Prediction Market Surveillance from the DACOM Summit
September 23, 2026
Trust the Future You Trade: Lessons About Prediction Market Surveillance from the DACOM Summit
By: John Mikuta
Prediction markets are no longer a niche offering confined to a small corner of the internet. The rapid growth of prediction markets has launched them into the mainstream as a meaningful part of the financial ecosystem. But with that growth comes many of the same market integrity and compliance challenges that more traditional financial markets have long encountered. Prediction markets have faced public scrutiny over…
High Wire Act
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…
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…
A Ticket to Win: Are Travel Points a Thing of Value?
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…
