Gaming
Gould & Ratner's Gaming Group, in affiliation with More Law Group, P.C., offers gaming industry clients a full range of corporate and regulatory services provided by attorneys that are well-versed in the unique legal issues confronting this burgeoning industry. We have represented gaming clients in virtually all of the nation’s primary gaming jurisdictions, including Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania as well as in international jurisdictions, including Latin America and Australia.
Our attorneys represent gaming clients in a wide array of matters, including licensing and regulatory compliance, corporate and securities matters, finance, real estate, and litigation.
Licensing and Regulatory Compliance
Many aspects of the gaming and casino business, including gaming licensure, suitability of key employees, financing, and site approval, are subject to regulatory approval. Each gaming jurisdiction has its own unique regulatory requirements. Our attorneys successfully navigate clients through the complex maze of gaming regulations. We assist clients with their preparation of the license application and proactively represent them from the first investigative interview through the issuance of the desired license. We are able to leverage our vast experience in such matters to help our clients avoid missteps than can lead to the delayed issuance, or even denial, of the desired license.
Our licensing and regulatory attorneys have significant experience:
- Representing casino owners and operators and gaming industry manufacturers and suppliers in obtaining gaming licenses, including the licensure of key employees;
- Advising clients with respect to investigations conducted by gaming regulators;
- Representing gaming clients and vendors before regulatory agencies;
- Helping clients navigate the maze of federal and tribal gaming regulations; and
- Lobbying on behalf of our gaming clients.
Corporate and Securities
We regularly represent gaming clients in the structuring and negotiation of mergers and acquisitions and corporate contracts, including distribution agreements, supply agreements, and service contracts. We also handle securities matters for our public gaming clients, including assisting clients with SEC filings and advising them on changes in the applicable laws.
The corporate attorneys in our Gaming Group regularly counsel clients on business formation issues. We not only prepare the organizational documents and complete and file the necessary regulatory forms, but we provide clients with critical advice on the tax ramifications and other pertinent issues related to their choice of business structure.
Finance and Real Estate
We represent gaming companies in obtaining capital necessary for their operations. We have assisted gaming clients in the structuring and negotiation of financing transactions ranging from more complex arrangements such as PIPE (Private Investments in Public Equity) financings to more traditional asset-based secured bank loans. In addition, we have experience counseling investors on various gaming finance matters, including regarding tribal government bonds.
The real estate attorneys in our Gaming Group assist our gaming clients with their real estate needs, whether that involves purchasing property for the development of a casino and examining environmental, zoning and other related land use issues or leasing anything from a large industrial building to a small warehouse facility.
Litigation
Our litigation practice is national in scope and includes complex commercial matters for public companies, as well as closely held and family businesses. Our litigation attorneys are highly skilled and experienced trial lawyers, practical and bottom-line oriented, yet as tough as a client wants them to be, whether in state or federal court or before an administrative agency.
Illinois Video Gaming Act
Our gaming attorneys have been intricately involved in the emerging Illinois Video Gaming Terminal industry. The industry was created by the passage of the Illinois Video Gaming Act, 230 ILCS 40/1 et al. in July 2009. The Act legalized the operation of video gambling machines in "any licensed retail establishment where alcoholic liquor is drawn, poured, mixed, or otherwise served for consumption on the premises," including bars, truck stops, and fraternal and veterans organizations throughout the state.
We represent companies intending to serve as manufacturers, distributors and operators under the Act. Having a former Chief Counsel of the Illinois Gaming Board working as part of our team is tremendously helpful in providing Illinois video gambling machine clients with top-notch guidance on licensing and transactional matters under the Act.