Ohtani-Mizuhara Scandal: A Case for Regulated Sports Betting, Not Against It
Shohei Ohtani finds himself at the center of a sports betting scandal and regulated sports betting naysayers have taken the opportunity to toot their own horns. The opening line of this LA Times article, by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Hiltzik, states: “Question for Major League Baseball: How do you like your sports betting partnerships now?”…
Read MorePennsylvania’s Aggressive and Conflicting Approach to Skill Gaming and Versus the House Fantasy Sports Operators
The early part of 2024 has proven to be unexpectedly eventful in Pennsylvania in regards to sports betting, fantasy contests, and skill games. There is always an interesting dynamic- and sometimes tension- in regards to the different regulatory regimes and which one applies to a specific platform. For example, who takes ownership over a game…
Read MoreSay it Ain’t So, Oh!
The Shohei Ohtani betting scandal has receded from view for the moment, but its brief surfacing last week provided fundamental guidance on how not to manage a crisis faced by a professional athlete, while also giving rise to some serious issues for Major League Baseball (“MLB”) to address in the near future. Lawyers and publicists…
Read MoreA Positive Result of Legalized Sports Betting is Solution for Betting Corruption and Match Fixing
This month, Sportradar released its “Betting Corruption and Match-Fixing Report” (the “Report”) from the company’s Integrity Services Division[1] The Report covered approximately 850,000 sporting events and matches across 70 sports. Sportradar identified a total of 1,329 suspicious matches in 2023, in 11 sports in 105 countries. This represented a marginal increase over the 1,212 suspicious…
Read MoreIfrah Law Interviews David Purdum on Sports Integrity
The stakes have never been higher for sports leagues and athletes to maintain the integrity of their contests. The mere possibility of thrown games, points shaven, or dishonest referee calls turns many bettors into pseudo-detectives, scrutinizing outcomes on behalf of their lost wagers. We interviewed David Purdum, an investigative journalist who writes on the sports…
Read MoreAre Lottery Courier Services the Next Big Thing?
On February 15, 2024, DraftKings announced that it would acquire lottery app Jackpocket (which is a lottery courier services provider- i.e. it enables customers to obtain lottery tickets such as PowerBall and MegaMillions directly from their mobile app) for about $750 million in cash and stock. The company said it would pay about 55% of…
Read MoreInvestment Giant Clears State Regs, Gains Major iGaming Equity Stake
The world’s largest alternative asset manager was poised to make a major move in the iGaming space by investing in a leading geolocation company. The financial pathway for the envisioned investment was clear, but a transaction would require multiple state-level approvals. Ifrah Law drew on its deep experience in gaming law and working with regulators…
Read MoreWhen Gamers Become Plaintiffs – Arbitration Clauses for the Win
Online businesses, including gaming companies, frequently include arbitration clauses in their “terms and conditions” or other policies when consumers register for their services. These clauses notify users that disputes will be subject to private arbitration by an appointed neutral arbitrator, usually the American Arbitration Association or JAMS. Businesses favor arbitration for several reasons, including reduced…
Read MoreFast-Paced, Multi-Pronged Partnership Deal Lets London Financial Giant Access U.S. iGaming Market
A global payment processor—#11 on CNBC’s 2022 Disruptor 50 list—sought out Ifrah Law for a pathway into payment processing for regulated sports betting operators in the U.S. iGaming market. Ifrah Law mapped a licensing and compliance strategy, kindled a partnership with one of America’s biggest sports brands, and orchestrated a seamless entry into the lucrative…
Read MoreSuper Bowl LVIII’s Record-Breaking Number of Bettors Illustrates Benefits and Success of Legalization
In the five or so years since the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in Murphy v. NCAA, which gave way for state legislatures to legalize sports betting, more than 35 states have done so. Each successive year seems to be a record breaker for the sports betting industry as…
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