Gaming is a billion-dollar industry that is continually evolving. As gaming grows more prevalent online, internationally and on U.S. soil, the demand for lawyers with expert knowledge of the industry’s complex regulations rises.
Gaming includes activities such as lotteries, casinos, racetracks and online sports betting. The industry is regulated under both state and federal law, and overseen by local gaming commissions. Gaming businesses found on reservations must also comply with federal tribal gaming regulations. Successfully operating a gaming facility requires the guidance of lawyers with expert knowledge of these regulations.
“The gaming industry has a complicated legal framework, and is diverse among different jurisdictions,” said Brian Wall, director of Graduate Programs at the University of Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law.
To meet the growing demand for knowledgeable attorneys, UNLV Law offers a LL.M. in Gaming Law and Regulation. Students in the program receive instruction and participate in hands-on experiences that equip them with the knowledge necessary for working in this highly specialized practice area.
Located in the heart of Las Vegas, Nev., an international gaming destination, UNLV LL.M. students have unparalleled access to gaming professionals, regulators and businesses leading the global expansion of the gaming industry. In addition, the LL.M. program has academic collaborations with the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, the International Gaming Institute, and the Center for Gaming Research.
Students are also encouraged to contribute to the UNLV Gaming Law Journal, which analyzes gaming law and policy. Other on-campus activities include the Gaming Law Society, a student-led organization that explores gaming law as a career and the issues gaming lawyers encounter on a daily basis. The society hosts guest lectures and field trips to nearby hotels and casinos.
Graduates of the gaming law LL.M. program have found desirable positions with tribal gaming commissions, the federal government, online sports betting companies, and local regulatory bodies like the Nevada Gaming Commission, Wall said.
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