coronavirus – Duane Morris Gaming Law

April 24, 2020June 11, 2020 by Duane Morris

Small Business Administration Updates Interim Regulatory Guidelines to Greatly Expand Accessibility of Paycheck Protection Program Loans to Gaming Businesses

On April 24, 2020, the casino industry received some much-needed good news from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Specifically, the SBA issued revised regulatory guidelines for the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that now make PPP loans available to small gaming businesses previously precluded from the program because of restrictions on gambling-based revenue, but otherwise met the eligibility requirements.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

April 17, 2020June 11, 2020 by Duane Morris

Governor Returns Virginia Gambling Legislation with Amendments, Including Tax for COVID-19 Fund

In a March 17 Alert, we reported that Virginia’s General Assembly had sent Governor Ralph Northam two bills (Senate Bill 36 and House Bill 896), which, if signed, would permit five land-based casinos, online sports betting and up to 2,000 additional historical horse racing machines in the commonwealth. On the April 11 deadline to take action on the bills, Governor Northam returned them, each unsigned, to the Virginia legislature with amendments. While the governor’s proposed changes to the two bills appear minor (for example, they did not change tax rates, minimum capital expenditure requirements or the types of games), a new proposal would further expand gaming in Virginia, at least temporarily, by permitting and taxing skill-based machines in bars, convenience stores and truck stops to raise money for a COVID-19 relief fund.

Update: On April 22, 2020, both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly approved Governor Northam’s amendments to the casino and sports betting bills, thus effectively making both bills Virginia law.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

April 15, 2020June 11, 2020 by Duane Morris

Small Business Administration Updates Interim Regulatory Guidelines to Help Certain Gaming Companies

On April 14, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued revised interim regulatory guidelines for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The revisions provide, in relevant part, that certain companies which derive revenues from legal gaming activities are eligible for PPP loans and are not automatically ineligible as previously thought pursuant to the interim regulatory guidelines released on April 2, 2020, and discussed in our previous Alert.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

April 3, 2020June 11, 2020 by Duane Morris

Interim Regulatory Guidelines Preclude Gaming Businesses from Receiving Support Under the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program

Much of the U.S. casino industry is currently ineligible to benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program portion of the newly enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). As articulated by Congress, under the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program provides loans to any small business, nonprofit organization, veterans’ organization, and/or tribal business as long as the business has less than 500 employees. The Paycheck Protection Program is one of several tools to provide much needed support for small businesses and their employees experiencing economic distress caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.