Legalized casino gambling and sports wagering are approaching the finish line in Virginia following the recent passage of two bills by the Virginia General Assembly. Senate Bill 36 and House Bill 896, both awaiting the signature of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, would permit five land-based casinos, online sports betting and up to 2,000 additional historical horse racing machines.
Gaming in New York and Beyond: Looking to the Future
Duane Morris LLP will present “Gaming in New York and Beyond – Looking to the Future,” to be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at the firm’s New York office.
In the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), states now have the ability to legalize and regulate sports betting. Duane Morris has assembled a panel of gaming industry veterans and lawyers to help you understand the opportunities and challenges in this new era of gaming in New York and beyond. Partner Christopher Soriano and associates Adam Berger and Samantha Haggerty will be panelists.
For more information or to register, please visit the event page on the Duane Morris website.
Duane Morris’ Adam Berger Appointed Chair of Pennsylvania Bar Association Gaming Law Committee
Duane Morris attorney Adam Berger has been reappointed chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s (PBA) Gaming Law Committee, for a second term beginning on May 12, 2017. The PBA Gaming Law Committee is responsible for reviewing, studying and making recommendations concerning legislative proposals in the area of gaming law; promoting the understanding of laws, regulations and court decisions in the gaming area; and developing materials and educational programs of interest to gaming practitioners to promote improvements and professionalism in the field.
For more information, please visit the Duane Morris website for a press release about Mr. Berger’s appointment.
Duane Morris Attorney Adam Berger Profiled in Global Gaming Business Magazine
Duane Morris’ Adam Berger, an associate in the firm’s Cherry Hill office, is featured in the July 2017 Global Gaming Business Magazine article, “The Art of Watching, Listening and Learning.”
Read Mr. Berger’s profile on the Global Gaming Business Magazine website.
Duane Morris Attorneys Christopher Soriano and Adam Berger to present at NJ State Bar Webinar
Duane Morris attorneys Christopher Soriano and Adam Berger of the firm’s Cherry Hill office will present a webinar, “2016: A Year to Hold’em or Fold’em,” hosted by the NJ State Bar on December 9, 2016. The webinar will offer retrospective on this year’s key legal issues in the gaming industry.
Topics to be discussed include:
- The recent decision shooting down sports betting in casinos
- Impact of the North Jersey gaming referendum on the future of the racing industry and on the Atlantic City casino market
- Online gaming developments
- Fantasy sports legislation/regulation
- Issues surrounding the potential closing of Monmouth Racetrack
To register for the webinar, please visit the NJSBA website.
Duane Morris Attorney Adam Berger Named to Global Gaming Business’ “40 Under 40” List
Duane Morris Adam Berger, an associate in the firm’s Cherry Hill office, has been named to Global Gaming Business magazine’s “40 Under 40” list for 2017. Mr. Berger was chosen by the GGB Advisory Board for this recognition, and the feature will run in the November issue of the magazine.
Duane Morris Attorney Adam Berger Presented on Daily Fantasy Sports at Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal Symposium
Duane Morris associate Adam Berger of the firm’s Cherry Hill office spoke at the 2016 Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal Symposium, held earlier this month in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Mr. Berger participated in a panel discussion on “Daily Fantasy Sports: A Legal View.” This year’s symposium, A Changing Game: Challenging the Status Quo in Sports Law, analyzed the hard-hitting legal and business issues in sports today.
Daily fantasy sports—a hot-button issue from a legal, regulatory and business perspective—was the headline topic for the roster of industry leaders. The discussion also included the evolution of the NCAA’s legal and business landscape and a view of pro sports from one of the nation’s top agents and a two-time Super Bowl champion.
To view the Sports Law Symposium program, please visit YouTube.com.
Future of North Jersey Casinos Now In Voters’ Hands
On Monday, three-fifths of each house of the New Jersey legislature passed resolutions that will put a question on the ballot in November asking voters if they want to expand casino gaming outside of Atlantic City. As we previously posted here and here, the North Jersey casino proposal will allow for two casinos to be located at least 72 miles from Atlantic City, in separate counties. The minimum investment required for a North Jersey casino will be $1 billion. Current Atlantic City casino owners will be given an exclusive period of 60 days to submit bids for the two North Jersey casino licenses before bidding is opened up broadly. Current owners of Atlantic City casinos may partner with other investors/developers to submit a bid for a North Jersey casino license.
If New Jersey voters pass the referendum in November, the legislature will then need to adopt enabling legislation. This legislation will provide the details for the bidding process and the tax rate for North Jersey casinos. Atlantic City casinos currently pay an effective tax rate of 9.25% on gross gaming revenue. North Jersey casinos likely will be required to pay a significantly higher rate, perhaps in excess of 50%.
We will provide updates as developments occur.
Video Gaming Bill Reintroduced in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania House Bill 808, introduced this week, would authorize video gaming machines for video poker, bingo, keno and other games in establishments with valid liquor licenses, such as restaurants, bars, taverns, hotels or clubs, in Pennsylvania. Similar legislation was introduced last year, and we provided an analysis of that bill here. In addition to providing an overview of the legislation, this Alert highlights the many similarities and distinct differences between House Bill 808 and last year’s legislation.
What’s Authorized
Licensed establishments with less than 2,500 square feet would be permitted up to five video gaming terminals. One additional terminal would be permitted for every additional 500 square feet, up to a maximum of 10 terminals. In comparison, last year’s legislation authorized up to only three machines at an establishment.
Maximum wagers are held to $2.50 with a maximum payout of $500 and a payout percentage of 85 percent. The only change from last year’s legislation is a reduction from $1,000 to $500 on the maximum payout.
To read the full text of this Alert, please visit the Duane Morris website.
Bill Restricting Casino Gaming Operations in Pennsylvania Goes to Committee
Last week, a Pennsylvania bill, which would restrict the hours of operation of Pennsylvania casinos, was referred to the House Committee on Gaming Oversight. Specifically, House Bill Number 165 would require casinos in the Commonwealth to close between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. In a memorandum accompanying the legislation, State Representative Will Tallman, a co-sponsor of the bill, suggested that closing the casinos for a couple hours each day would reduce the prevalence of problem gambling.
If this legislation were to pass, Pennsylvania would be an outlier in the region as casinos in neighboring states – including New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio and Maryland – maintain 24 hour gaming operations. Additionally, New York recently selected three upstate applicants to develop full-scale resort casino facilities, which are expected to open in the next couple years. Once open, each of these facilities will offer 24-hour gaming to patrons.
It will be interesting to see if the Pennsylvania House committee charged with overseeing the Commonwealth’s gaming industry will support this legislation – and add another hurdle to a casino industry that is already struggling to keep gaming dollars away from rival gaming markets – or if the committee will determine that the existing regulatory safeguards to prevent problem gambling are sufficient. Stay tuned for updates on this and other legislation affecting the Pennsylvania gaming industry.