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Posts by I. Nelson Rose
California Tribes Would Get Sports Betting, If They Didn’t Hate Cardclubs So Much
The extremely rich and politically powerful gaming tribes in California are spending nearly half a billion dollars this year to win the right to have sports betting. Or, I should say, they are throwing away their money on a fatally flawed initiative, which the voters...
Macau’s Distressing New Casino Laws – Part I
Macau’s casino operators were just reminded, dramatically, that China is still a Marxist country. First, the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) became the only major nation to seek the complete eradication of Covid. The PRC has the will and power to do whatever it...
COVID Devastates Macau Casinos
You know you are in deep trouble when one of the leading newsletters in your industry discusses the “silver lining” in being shut down: “Macau Casino Closures Provide Some Relief from Cash Burn.” Asia Gaming Brief Macau casinos have so few gamblers, in fact, so...
Can Tribes Run Abortion Clinics?
I normally write about issues involving legal gambling. But the US Supreme Court’s upcoming decision to overturn Roe v. Wade raises the question: Can tribes open abortion clinics the way they have opened casinos? Gaming law gives us part of the answer. Indian law is...
New York Court Changes Definition of Gambling
It is always nice to be cited in a published court opinion. I was included in the decision by New York’s highest Court legalizing fantasy sports. Unfortunately, I was mentioned only in the Dissent. Last year I predicted that the New York Court of Appeals would agree...
Is a New York City Casino License Worth $1 Billion?
No government has ever asked $1 billion just for the right to build a casino. That still is true. But that’s how much New York Governor Kathy Hochul had originally wanted for casinos in New York City. Casino executives and lobbyists were able to get the leaders of...
Texas’ Poker Clubs Are in Trouble
A little-known fact, known by few: Texas has poker clubs. These are by no means just a couple of tables in the back of a bar. The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock outside of Austin has more than 60 tables. The games -- mostly Texas Hold 'em, naturally -- are played...
Macau’s Casinos Are About To Change
Junkets and high-rollers are out. Mass-market is definitely in. The six current concessionaires, including the American companies MGM, Wynn, and Las Vegas Sands, are, rightly, mostly concerned about whether they will be allowed to continue to operate casinos. But they...
Macau’s New Laws: Too Early to Celebrate
The new proposed law for Macau casinos has been made public, and the existing casino operators – and their investors – have breathed sighs of relief. The government has made it clear that there will be “no more than six casino concessions,” which all six companies read as “we will be renewed.”
Works Recently Cited
My published works were recently cited in these articles: 1) Mark A. Gottlieb, Richard A. Daynard, and Lissy C. Friedman, "Casinos: an Addiction Industry in the Mold of Tobacco and Opioid Drugs," 2021 University of Illinois Law Review 1711 (2021). Citing I. Nelson...
Gateway to Gaming (“G2G”) Interview
I was recently interviewed for “Game On,” G2G News' flagship show, by Jay Sayta, one of India’s leading gaming lawyers. We discussed ongoing cases involving online gaming, daily fantasy sports, gaming machines and poker. Topics included skill versus chance,...
China Has Plans for Macau
All six casino concessions in Macau are about to expire. The big question is whether the US-based companies – MGM, Wynn, and Las Vegas Sands – will be able to continue operating some of the most successful casinos in the world. Of much less importance is...
New York’s Unforced Error
Last week I wrote a blog explaining why the plan to issue online sports betting licenses in New York will be a disaster. [LINK] Not only will the tax rate be the highest in the nation – possibly a ridiculous 71% – but the entire law is on its face unconstitutional....
New York’s Sports Betting Disaster
On Friday, October 22nd the New York State Gaming Commission announced what the tax rates will be for anyone unfortunate to win the right to operate online sports betting. Most of the bids were probably already in, but the Gaming Commission graciously gave the...
Dept. of Interior to Review $470 Million Judgment Based on Law That Does Not Exist
Here’s a little nugget buried in the news: “US Interior Department calls to review Compact payments between Senecas and NY State,” LINK The fight is over whether the Seneca Nation must pay a $470 million judgment won by the State of New York. With any lawsuit...