James A. Lewis
Associate
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Phone: +1 202 776 7836
- Duane Morris LLP
901 New York Avenue N.W., Suite 700 East
Washington, DC 20001-4795
USA
James A. Lewis practices gaming law and assists clients in navigating the sophisticated and evolving regulatory framework governing commercial and tribal gaming. Mr. Lewis advises a diverse array of gaming entities on state and federal law, including sports wagering operators, freemium and sweepstakes operators, tribal gaming regulatory authorities, pari-mutuel tracks, casinos, card rooms, jai alai frontons and other gaming–facing businesses.
Prior to joining Duane Morris, Mr. Lewis was a staff attorney for the National Indian Gaming Commission, where he advised the United States on regulating tribal gaming activities. Prior to his role with the United States, Mr. Lewis was the chief litigator for the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, where he regularly prosecuted complaints and defended agency action before administrative tribunals and state circuit court.
Mr. Lewis is a 2017 graduate of Florida State University College of Law and holds a political science degree from Florida State University. He is the Director of Young Lawyers for the American Bar Association Business Law Section Gaming Law Committee and an associate liaison for Duane Morris’ Gaming Industry Initiative.
Areas of Practice
- Corporate
- Gaming
Admissions
- Washington, D.C.
- Florida
- Supreme Court of the United States
Education
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 2017
- Florida State University, B.S., 2013
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Associate, 2022-present - United States National Indian Gaming Commission
- Staff Attorney, 2020-2022 - Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- Deputy Chief Attorney, 2019-2020
- Senior Attorney, 2018-2019
- Assistant General Counsel, 2017-2018
Honors and Awards
- National Indian Gaming Commission Professional Service Award, 2022
Selected Publications
- Co-author, “Key States to Watch in 2023-24” Gambling Insider, Sports Betting Focus H2, September 19, 2023
- Author, “Florida's Gray Market: The Suppression of Illegal Slot Machines,” Gaming America, June/July 2023
- Co-author, "Is 'Free Play' Free of Risk?" Gaming America, March/April 2023
- Co-author, "U.S. Department of the Interior Proposes Significant Amendments to Class III Tribal-State Gaming Compact Process," Duane Morris Alert, December 19, 2022
- Author, “An Overview of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s May 2022 Tribal Consultations and Proposed Revisions to 25 C.F.R. Part 293,” Gaming Law Review, August 22, 2022
Media Hits
Quoted, “Is Latest Florida Decision Really A Tribal Gaming Game Changer?” SportsHandle, July 10, 2023
- Quoted, “Read The Fine Print: A Proposed Federal Rule Could Change Everything For Indian Gaming,” SportsHandle, March 6, 2023
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, “Commercial vs Tribal – What are the differences when entering a new market?” SBC Summit North America, Secaucus, New Jersey, May 11, 2023
- Panelist, “Gambling in the United States? You bet!” American Bar Association Business Law Section Gaming Law Committee CLE program, Washington, D.C., September 15, 2022
- Co-speaker, “Tribal Sports Betting 101” Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Regulators Association’s Spring Meeting, Durant, Oklahoma, April 17, 2022
- Co-presenter, “Sportsbook 2.0” National Indian Gaming Commission Training Topic of the Month, Virtual, August 20, 2021
Representative Matters
Represented as North American and Latin American gaming regulatory counsel to Aristocrat Leisure Limited, a global gaming and technology company, in its $1.2 billion acquisition of NeoGames.
Represented as gaming regulatory counsel to leading online sportsbook Fanatics Betting and Gaming in its $225 million acquisition of the U.S. businesses of PointsBet USA.