Meet lawyer Jeff Ifrah, the Buffalo native helping the gambling industry form its future

Attorney Jeff Ifrah had never worked as hard to pick up a client in his 28-year legal career.

Finally, during a trip home to Western New York to visit family, he drove to Niagara Falls and barged into the Seneca Gaming Corp. offices to once more try to convince management to set up sports betting operations in Western New York.

“That’s the only time I ever pitched someone, I think,” Ifrah said. “I literally just walked into their headquarters and said, ‘You’ve got to do this.’

“I think there’s a lot (of potential) there and if mobile sports betting comes to New York, it’s going to be huge. There’s only going to be seven or eight casino partners that are going to be able to offer it. That’s a pretty huge opportunity for Seneca and for Buffalo.”