Duane Morris Gaming Law

May 9, 2014September 3, 2014 by Adam Berger

What’s Next For Pennsylvania’s Gaming Industry?

Although by all accounts Pennsylvania’s gaming industry has a been a great success since the first casino opened in the Commonwealth in 2006, the industry now faces stiffer competition than ever for gaming dollars in the region. From 2006 to 2012, gaming revenues grew each year on a year-over-year basis, but declined slightly from 2012 to 2013. Within the next few years, several new casinos will open along the east coast in New York, Massachusetts and Maryland. Additionally, New Jersey and Delaware each recently launched Internet gaming in their states and Delaware has entered into a compact with Nevada to attract more Internet gaming revenue. The stakes are high for Pennsylvania’s gaming industry to remain competitive and to not lose gaming dollars to neighboring states.

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March 28, 2014September 10, 2014 by Duane Morris

Duane Morris’ Chris Soriano Writes on “California, Regulated I-Gaming and the Tribal Question”

Duane Morris special counsel Chris Soriano of the firm’s Cherry Hill office wrote “California, Regulated I-Gaming and the Tribal Question,” which was published in the March 2014 issue of World Online Gambling Law Report.

The California Legislature is currently considering two bills – AB2291 and SB1366 – to legalise online poker in the state. California Senator Lou Correa and Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer Sr., introduced legislation that would authorise online poker in the state and permit Indian tribes with gambling rights to obtain licences. Mr. Soriano sheds light on the situation in California and discusses the credentials of both bills.

Click here to read the full text of the article.

March 13, 2014September 10, 2014 by Duane Morris

Duane Morris’ Adam Berger Writes on “Tavern Gaming: Did Pennsylvania Gamble Away a Huge Revenue Opportunity?”

Duane Morris’ Adam Berger, an associate in the firm’s Cherry Hill office, authored “Tavern Gaming: Did Pennsylvania Gamble Away a Huge Revenue Opportunity?” which appeared in the Philadelphia Business Journal on March 13, 2014.

In a move meant to increase Pennsylvania’s state and local tax base, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed into law a bill that allows bars and taverns throughout the commonwealth to offer certain games of chance, known as tavern games. They include pull-tabs, daily drawings and certain raffles. Pull-tabs are games of chance that involve a ticket in which a player pulls, peels or pops open a selected part of the ticket to reveal images for a chance to win a prize based on what the ticket shows. These games may not offer a single prize higher than $2,000 or $35,000 in any consecutive seven-day period.

Click here to read the full article on the Philadelphia Business Journal website.

March 5, 2014September 3, 2014 by Adam Berger

Massachusetts To Hold Internet Gaming Forum

On the heels of its decision to award the sole slots parlor license to Penn National Gaming, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is prepared to make headlines again. This time for its scheduled educational forum on Internet gaming. Specifically, on March 11, 2014, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hold an all-day forum where industry experts and members of the Massachusetts legislature will present on a wide array of Internet gaming topics.

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February 6, 2014September 3, 2014 by Frank A. DiGiacomo

Ten States Consider Internet Gambling Legislation

Internet gambling is currently legal and operating in three, U.S. States – Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. Additional states, perhaps realizing that the likelihood of federal legislation on the topic anytime soon is remote, considered their own internet gambling legislation this past year. Proposals for new, or expanded internet gambling have, or will likely be considered by California, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

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December 5, 2013September 3, 2014 by Frank A. DiGiacomo

Japan Moves Toward Legalizing Casinos

Japanese lawmakers have submitted a bill to the Japanese Parliament which would legalize casinos in Japan. The bill, which apparently has cross party support, including from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is the culmination of recent momentum prompted by the 2020 Olympics being awarded to Tokyo.

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April 17, 2013September 10, 2014 by Duane Morris

The Likely Battle Between the State Lottery and Atlantic City’s Casinos

The New Jersey State Lottery, in existence for more than 42 years, has been a source of significant profit for state institutions and state aid for education. Even so, New Jersey has commenced efforts to privatize certain functions of the lottery, with the ultimate goal of increasing revenue and improviing the lottery’s operation. As the process has moved forward, the coexistence between lottery and casinos has become a topic of possible concern, particularly with the legalization of Internet wagering. Partner Frank DiGiacomo takes a closer look at the relationship between lottery and casinos in New Jersey, and what the partial privatization of the lottery may mean for the casino industry going forward in this article published in New Jersey Lawyer.

April 16, 2013September 10, 2014 by Duane Morris

Third-Party Software Providers–Will the DGE Take a Hard Look at Them?

Gaming, like many other industries, has been greatly impacted by changes in technology. As a result, the laws and regulations governing the gaming industry have begun to adapt in order to keep pace with the evolution of the gaming equipment manufacturing process. Attorneys Frank DiGiacomo and Eric Frank explore some of these reforms in New Jersey in this article from New Jersey Lawyer.

December 17, 2012September 10, 2014 by Duane Morris

Duane Morris Partner Frank DiGiacomo to Speak on “Regulatory Structure and Impacts of New Jersey’s New Legislation”

Duane Morris partner Frank DiGiacomo will speak on “Regulatory Structure and Impacts of New Jersey’s New Legislation” and “Historical Development of the Federal Regulatory Structure for Gambling: What Needs to Change to Make Internet Gambling Truly Work?” at Law Seminars International’s (LSI) Online Gambling Conference on Monday, February 4, 2013.

Mr. DiGiacomo, the program’s co-chair, will be opening the two-day conference that invites attorneys and business executives involved in the gaming and online entertainment industry. Attorneys who attend are also eligible to receive CLE credits.

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July 31, 2012September 10, 2014 by J. Scott Kramer

DOJ Online Poker Settlement Unleashes Two Top Brands

PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker on path to online gaming licensing.

The U.S. Department of Justice, (DOJ) Southern District of New York, reached a settlement today with PokerStars on the U.S. Government’s civil charges that the company defrauded customers and evaded U.S. prohibitions on Internet gambling. The DOJ action arose from the Black Friday, April 15, 2011, indictment and civil complaints against PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker and its chief executives, which left online poker players in the U.S. in shock and disarray, as detailed in this New York Times blog.

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