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The gaming industry is constantly evolving, fueled by technological advancements and shifting regulations. At Dickinson Wright, we understand the challenges and opportunities within the gaming sector and are dedicated to delivering effective legal solutions that empower clients to achieve their objectives.

As a full-service law firm strategically positioned across the United States and Canada, with offices in key gaming destinations like Las Vegas, Reno, Chicago, Miami, Detroit, Phoenix, Silicon Valley, Nashville, Austin, Washington, D.C., and Toronto, our gaming attorneys tailor legal services to each client’s individual needs.

Who We Are

Our team brings together a wealth of experience in gaming, comprising transactional lawyers, litigators, compliance advisors, lobbyists, engineers, and professionals in gaming and technology. With decades of collective knowledge in the industry, we have been recognized as a leading gaming law firm by Chambers USA®, Chambers Canada®, and Chambers Global®.

We have a proven track record of drafting and passing significant gaming legislation, such as streamlining equipment testing, expanding gaming enterprise districts, and facilitating casino resort development.

Who We Serve

  • Casino & resort owners
  • Betting software companies
  • Developers of vacation properties & mixed-use projects
  • Designers & distributors of gaming devices
  • Operators of taverns, restaurants & nightclubs
  • Sportsbook operators & entertainment companies
  • Esports, online gaming, and fantasy sports entities
  • Alcohol wholesalers, distributors & retailers
  • Manufacturers of gaming equipment
  • Sweepstakes, contests & promotion providers

Our Services

Esports & Social Gaming: The growth of esports, social gaming, and skill gaming has expanded our practice significantly. We provide legal guidance across jurisdictions, including regulatory risk assessments and compliance reviews for new game offerings in all 50 states.

Sports & Entertainment: We serve individuals and businesses involved in creating, producing, and managing immersive experiences, offering comprehensive legal services across the sports and entertainment spectrum.

Land Use & Economic Development: We advise clients on complex development projects ranging from golf facilities to luxury resorts, helping them navigate zoning, land use, and regulatory issues.

Licensing & Regulatory Compliance: We counsel clients on AML compliance, gaming device approvals, testing systems, liquor licensing, and broader regulatory frameworks, including casino financing matters.

Government Affairs: Our team works with gaming jurisdictions to support legislative updates and represents clients before regulatory boards and commissions.

International Gaming Law: Through our Canadian office, we assist clients expanding into regulated international markets and support development of gaming legislation in emerging jurisdictions.

Litigation: We represent clients in disputes ranging from commercial disagreements to complex multi-party litigation, tailoring strategy to business objectives.

We also collaborate across practice areas to address related legal needs, including:

  • Administrative & Regulatory
  • Alcoholic Beverage Law
  • Banking & Finance
  • Corporate Finance
  • Corporate Law
  • Entertainment, Sports & Media
  • Hotel & Hospitality Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Labor & Employment
  • Land Use & Economic Development
  • Licensing & Regulatory Compliance
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Native American Gaming Law
  • Native American Law
  • Taxation
  • White Collar Crime
Representative Matters

Licensing & Regulatory Compliance
  • Assisted with a 50-state survey of gaming/amusement laws relating to the release of a new online game. This included analyzing each state’s laws, regulations, and court opinions and assessing how they apply to the product, including risk classification where laws were not explicitly addressed.
  • Provided ongoing gaming regulatory advice to a Nevada investment and real estate development company, including participation in the client’s compliance committee and advising on quarterly compliance reporting to Gaming Control Board agents.
  • Assisted commercial casino developers in obtaining gaming licenses, securing approval of constitutional amendments and gaming legislation, and advising on financing, construction, and operations of casino projects.
  • Negotiated tribal/state gaming compacts and tribal/municipality casino development agreements, and advised tribal nations, developers, and vendors on sovereign contracting matters.
  • Served as counsel to a resort and casino in obtaining licensure in Detroit, Michigan and advised on ongoing regulatory and gaming compliance matters.
  • Drafted legislative amendments and advised clients on revisions to gaming legislation enacted by the government of Ontario.
Land Use & Economic Development
  • Representing development partners in the financing and development of a luxury mixed-use project in downtown Nashville, including a 46-story hotel and condominium tower and a 32-story residential tower, with hospitality, retail, spa, and dining components. Representation spans real estate, finance, tax, land use, entitlements, and construction.
  • Representing development partners in a luxury mixed-use project in downtown Austin, Texas, including a 64-story tower with hotel rooms, condominiums, multifamily units, meeting space, spa, retail, parking, and dining. Work includes acquisition, equity financing, and overall project structuring.
  • Represented a developer in the structuring of a $1+ billion casino and resort development, including equity contributions, construction financing, EB-5 components, entity restructuring, and gaming-related security interests.
  • Provided gaming and due diligence counsel for international mezzanine financing of a hotel and casino project impacted by pandemic-related delays.
  • Represented clients before Nevada State Contractor’s Board and local planning and zoning boards for large-scale infrastructure and development approvals.
  • Represented a Canadian investor-backed company in connection with the development and operation of a golf putting facility on the Las Vegas Strip.
Mergers, Acquisitions & Financing
  • Served as Nevada gaming counsel to a lender group financing the $4.25 billion acquisition of a Las Vegas resort and casino, including real estate structuring and leaseback arrangements.
  • Served as Nevada counsel in the $825 million acquisition of a Las Vegas hotel and casino, including related entertainment and recreational assets and financing components.
  • Advised on gaming regulatory matters in connection with a $180 million acquisition of a payments and currency systems company serving financial institutions and casinos across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Represented a hospitality solutions company in two add-on acquisitions, including financing and refinancing of senior and subordinated debt.
Intellectual Property
  • Served as Nevada gaming counsel in negotiating intellectual property rights for a themed gaming area in a Las Vegas casino, including table games and slot machine integration.
  • Served as external IP counsel to an emerging online gaming company that completed multiple acquisitions following its public offering.
Litigation
  • Represented a restaurant and hospitality group in a high-profile dispute involving unfair competition, breach of lease, non-compete violations, and related IP issues arising from attempts to misappropriate goodwill and business operations in Miami Beach.
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