Gamer Technology Law: Significant Issues and Developments

Mr. Crawford is the co-chair of the firm’s Gaming, Gambling & Sweepstakes Practice and Counsel in the firm’s Technology Transactions Practice and Technology Companies Group. He has over 13 years of experience advising clients on a broad range of commercial transactions, gaming and gambling and other technology and intellectual property matters, including technology licensing and transfers; joint venture, collaboration, strategic alliance and joint development transactions; due diligence and counseling in mergers, acquisitions, venture capital and private equity transactions; open source counseling; and counseling of clients on compliance with sweepstakes, Internet marketing and promotional laws. Mr. Crawford regularly advises clients in connection with the structuring, launch and commercialization of online games of skill, games of chance, fantasy sports games, sweepstakes, promotions and related technology platforms, games and content.

Mark Hichar is a Partner with the law firm Hinckley, Allen and Snyder, LLP and the Chair of the firm's Gaming Law Practice Group. He works out of the firm's offices in Boston and Providence. Mark's clients include casinos, suppliers of gaming systems and services (for both "bricks and mortar" and online gaming), and investors in and lenders to gaming businesses. Mark is a frequent writer and speaker on developments in Gaming Law and related regulatory actions, and has authored several articles on developments in the laws relating to online gaming. Seehttps://www.haslaw.com/mark-hichar/

Mark received his B.A. degree from Yale University, his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, and also studied at the Universität Duisberg-Essen, in Essen, Germany.

Vernon Nelson is leader of Lewis Brisbois’s Gaming Law Practice Group and is based in our  Las Vegas office. He has counseled Gaming clients for more than 15 years as in-house and outside counsel. He has represent Gaming clients on matters involving Gaming Law, Collections and Creditors Rights, Corporate/Business Law, Real Property, and environmental compliance.

Mr. Nelson has represented Gaming clients in gaming regulatory matters around the world, including the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission, the NJ Casino Control Commission, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and  the U.K. Gambling Commission. He has represented Gaming clients in matters such as entity licensing, individual licensing, disciplinary matters, and tax matters. He has experience in credit card and ATM transactions, cash advance and credit issues, and issues relating to the enforceability of gaming obligations. He has represented Gaming clients in transactions involving the sale or lease of gaming equipment.

Mr. Nelson has represented Gaming clients in a wide array of legal matters across the U.S. and has appeared in numerous Federal and State courts. He has also directed compliance efforts and litigation in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Japan, the U.K. and South America. His international experience includes, foreign exchange issues, corporate and branch office matters, real estate transactions, commercial litigation and insolvency matters.

Mr. Nelson has represented commercial clients in commercial transactions, real property sales and leases, buy/ sell transactions, and management contracts. He has handled transactions involving the transfer of hotels and casinos and related real property. He has actively participated in negotiations relating to business matters such as retail leases, restaurant leases,  and the development and licensing of nightclubs in casinos. He has clients in land use matters, which include use permits, special assessment districts, and regional utility authorities.