Duane Morris partner Frank DiGiacomo was a panelist at KPMG’s Malta Gaming eSummit, on November 26, 2019.
An overview of his panel, “The US: Coming up Trumps,” can be found on page 26 of the 2019 Report.
KPMG Malta Gaming eSummit Report 2019
Poker Or Slots? Games Of Skill And Chance Have Legal Distinctions In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Police seized 414 illegal gaming machines in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2018.
Currently, people can gamble at state-regulated casinos, through the Pennsylvania Lottery, for horse races and, after the expansion of the law last year, online and at some truck stops. But the changes didn’t include gaming machines in bars and restaurants. In those venues, if a game is mostly chance, like a slot machine, it’s illegal. But if it requires skill, like poker, it’s legal.
Frank DiGiacomo, partner with the Duane Morris law firm, said the distinction comes from a 2014 court case out of Beaver County.
To read the full text of this article, please visit the WESA 90.5 website.
Dept. of Justice Reconsiders Its View on the Wire Act… So What Happens Now?
On January 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice published a legal opinion that may restrict online gambling. The opinion, dated November 2, 2018, (although only now published) reconsidered the DOJ’s 2011 opinion that declared the Wire Act (18 U.S.C. § 1084) only applied to sports gambling. After the release of the 2011 opinion, several states, including New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania, launched or moved forward with intrastate online lottery, casino gaming and poker. The new opinion, however, somewhat clouds the landscape regarding these operations. Online gaming businesses would be well advised to quickly determine whether their operations comply with the DOJ’s new reading.
The reconsideration stems from one phrase in the Wire Act: “on any sporting event or contest.” In 2011, the DOJ opined that the Wire Act was ambiguous and “that the more logical result” was that the phrase “on any sporting event or contest” applied to the entirety of the Wire Act, thereby prohibiting only the transmission of “bets or wagers” or “information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers” across state lines, if the bet or wager were on a sporting event. This logic follows in part from the Act’s legislative history, which reveals that Congress’ overriding goal in passing the Wire Act was to stop the use of wire communications by organized crime for illegal sports gambling. In 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States, in Murphy v. Nat’l Collegiate Athletic Ass’n—a decision that paved the way for states to authorize sports betting, in dicta—noted Congress’ original intent in characterizing a general federal approach to gambling: Operating a gambling business violates federal law only if that conduct is illegal under state or local law.
Federal Court Strikes Down Pennsylvania’s Ban on Political Contributions from Casino Interests
Yesterday, the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania struck down Section 1513 of the Pennsylvania Gaming Act, 4 Pa. C.S. § 1513, as unconstitutional under the United States Constitution. Section 1513 prohibits gaming license applicants, licensees, and principals of licensees from making any political contributions. Judge Sylvia H. Rambo of the Middle District applied the modified intermediate scrutiny analysis applicable to restrictions on direct campaign contributions under the First Amendment to determine that, although Pennsylvania demonstrated a sufficiently important interest in preventing quid pro quo corruption or the appearance of such corruption, the Commonwealth failed to craft legislation that was closely drawn to achieve that important interest. Continue reading “Federal Court Strikes Down Pennsylvania’s Ban on Political Contributions from Casino Interests”
Game On! Chris Soriano Featured on Good Law | Bad Law Podcast on Sports Betting
Duane Morris partner Chris Soriano was a guest on the Good Law | Bad Law podcast, “Game on! After a historic Supreme Court decision, sports betting is a go.”
Chris joined podcast host, Aaron Freiwald, to discuss the recent Supreme Court decision that in effect legalized sports betting across the country and the implications this decision may have for the future of gambling, as well as professional sports. Chris also talks about how his interest in the gaming area introduced him to gaming law.
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.
Trends in Internet Gaming and Other Developments in the Gaming Industry
The Lawline course “Trends in Internet Gaming and Other Developments in the Gaming Industry” is now available for replay.
Join Duane Morris attorneys Christopher Soriano and Adam Berger for an overview of trends in internet gaming and other new developments in the gaming industry. Soriano and Berger will discuss the ongoing legal battle over sports betting in the U.S., recent expansion efforts, and recent gaming developments such as internet gaming, eSports, and other emerging gaming categories. The program will also include a discussion of recent litigation and potential changes to come in the industry.
The course replay can be accessed on the Lawline 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.
Christopher Soriano discusses sports gambling on Chuck and Julie
Duane Morris partner Christopher Soriano was a guest on the Chuck and Julie radio show on 710 KNUS, discussing the Supreme Court case that would allow expanded sports gambling all over the United States.
Christopher Soriano Speaking at Mastering Fantasy Sports and Online Gaming Law CLE
Duane Morris’ Christopher Soriano will be speaking at a telephonic seminar about fantasy sports, online gaming and digital sports gambling on February 28, 2018 at 12:00 p.m.
The teleconference will discuss the latest on Mastering Fantasy Sports and Online Gaming Law. The seminar will introduce the most relevant issues and solutions along with latest legal developments and Supreme Court decisions affecting the industry.
For more information and to register, please visit the event website.