Gaming Law and Regulation Program

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Gaming Law and Regulation Program

The William S.

Boyd School of Law offers a Gaming Law and Regulation LL.M., the world's only such advanced degree that builds on our leadership in this dynamic field.

07/22/2026

📚 Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling | UNLV Faculty Research 🎰⚖️

Written by UNLV’s own Dr. David G. Schwartz, Roll the Bones (Casino Edition) tells the story of gambling from its earliest roots to the modern casino industry we study today. The book traces the history of gambling all the way back to the first modern casino in Venice in 1638, through the rise of European spa towns like Monte Carlo, and into the development of gambling in the United States, both in illegal urban gambling halls and the wide open saloons of the western frontier.

From there, the book follows the story into Nevada’s legal casino industry, which took its current shape in 1931, and traces how those casinos grew from rough hewn beginnings into the sun drenched resorts of the Las Vegas Strip. It also explores the spread of casinos to other states beginning with New Jersey in 1976, the growth of tribal gaming across the country, and the more recent rise of online gambling and international gaming hubs like Macau and Singapore.

It’s a comprehensive look at how gambling has evolved alongside the cultures, economies, and regulations that shaped it, offering valuable context for the work being done in gaming law and regulation today.

This is exactly the kind of scholarship that grounds the Gaming Law and Regulation Program at Boyd Law. 🎓

07/16/2026

✨ Las Vegas History | Before the Rules, There Was the Mob 🎰

Before the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Before corporate oversight. Before background checks and compliance teams. There was the mob.

When Bugsy Siegel opened the Flamingo Hotel in 1946, Las Vegas was still a dusty desert town with big dreams and no rules. Organized crime saw an opportunity and took it, pumping millions of dollars into the Strip and turning Las Vegas into the most glamorous and most lawless gambling destination in America.

But the mob’s grip on Las Vegas could not last forever. The more money that flowed through the casinos, the louder the calls for accountability became. In 1955, Nevada established the Nevada Gaming Control Board, creating the first formal regulatory framework for gaming in the United States. The mission was simple but revolutionary: bring order to chaos and legitimacy to an industry that desperately needed both.

What followed was a decades long battle between the old guard and the new, between backroom deals and formal licensing requirements, between a city that ran on handshakes and one that would eventually become the most heavily regulated gaming jurisdiction in the world.

This is where it all began. 🎲⚖️

Stay tuned to learn more about our Las Vegas History!

07/15/2026

Throwing it back Tuesday to an unforgettable experience from 2025 with the Justice Michael L. Douglas PreLaw Fellowship Program! 🎓⚖️

The Justice Michael L. Douglas PreLaw Fellowship Program is dedicated to introducing students from under-resourced communities to the rigors of law school and the many benefits of a legal education. The program ensures that fellows have the essential knowledge and tools they need to navigate the law school admissions process and begin to envision themselves in a legal career.

During this visit, fellows had the incredible opportunity to hear from a panel of professionals working across the gaming industry, getting a firsthand look at one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving areas of law and business in the world.

What makes moments like these so powerful is seeing the spark of possibility ignite in students who may have never envisioned themselves in a legal or professional career before. The next generation of gaming industry leaders could be sitting right in that audience and we are so proud to play a part in that journey! 🙌

Access to legal education and real world exposure changes lives and that is exactly what the Justice Michael L. Douglas PreLaw Fellowship Program is all about!

07/14/2026

Meet Jajuan Eady! 🌟⚖️

Jajuan is an LL.M. Candidate in Gaming Law and Regulation at the William S. Boyd School of Law, bringing an impressive academic background and a passion for the gaming industry to Las Vegas. Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Jajuan earned his Juris Doctor from the Southern University Law Center and a Master’s in Sport Management from LSU before making his way to Boyd Law to pursue his LL.M. in Gaming Law and Regulation.

And in his own words, the experience has been nothing short of extraordinary.

“The gaming law program here at Boyd Law is unimaginable in terms of the experience and knowledge I have gained. The most important piece I have taken from the program is the network — connecting with gaming CEOs, gaming commissioners, legislators, and supreme court justices. Making connections in the wonderful city of Las Vegas truly goes far, because you meet so many wonderful people from across the world who share the same interest in gaming.”

That is the power of studying gaming law in the gaming capital of the world. The connections you make at Boyd Law are not just classmates and professors. They are industry leaders, regulators, and changemakers who are shaping the future of gaming law every single day.

We are so proud to have Jajuan in our program and cannot wait to see everything he accomplishes! 🎓🙌

07/10/2026

Flashback Friday! 🎉⚖️ We are throwing it back to the 2026 Frank A. Schreck Gaming Law Moot Court Competition hosted right here at the William S. Boyd School of Law in the gaming capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada!

Every year, the Frank A. Schreck Gaming Law Moot Court Competition brings together some of the brightest legal minds to argue emerging issues at the intersection of gaming law and regulation before prominent jurists and practitioners. This year’s competition was nothing short of incredible!

From compelling oral arguments to outstanding written briefs, our competitors demonstrated exactly the kind of appellate advocacy skills that will shape the future of gaming law. We are so incredibly proud of every single participant who stepped into the Thomas and Mack Moot Courtroom and gave it their all! 🙌🎓

A huge congratulations to all of our winners and a heartfelt thank you to Frank A. Schreck for his continued dedication to the future of gaming law at Boyd Law! ⚖️🌟

07/08/2026

✨ Las Vegas didn’t become the Entertainment Capital of the World overnight. Before the billion-dollar megaresorts, before the World Series of Poker, before sports betting became legal across the country, there was a city built on bold ideas, complicated laws, and larger-than-life personalities.

From Elvis Presley selling out the International Hotel night after night, to the Rat Pack performing in smoke-filled lounges at the Sands, to Howard Hughes quietly buying up the Strip from his penthouse at the Desert Inn, to the rise of corporate gaming that transformed Las Vegas from a mob-run playground into a globally regulated industry, every era left its mark not just on the skyline, but on the laws that govern gaming today.

We’re launching a new series that goes beyond the glitz and glamour to explore the moments, people, and policies that shaped the gaming industry as we know it. Think history meets law meets culture, told through the lens of one of the most unique regulatory landscapes in the world.

Whether you’re a gaming law student, a policy enthusiast, or just someone who’s always wondered how Las Vegas really became Las Vegas, this series is for you.
Stay tuned. History is about to get a lot more interesting. 🎰

07/07/2026

Regulatory Update! The Nevada Gaming Commission recently made a significant and unanimous decision, approving gaming licenses for multiple Primm properties as Terrible’s moves to transition operations and keep Stateline businesses running strong. 🎰⚖️

This decision is a great example of Nevada’s rigorous licensing process in action. When ownership transitions occur in the gaming industry, the Nevada Gaming Commission plays a critical role in ensuring that all parties meet the state’s strict regulatory standards before operations can continue. It is precisely this level of oversight that makes Nevada one of the most respected gaming jurisdictions in the world.

For those studying or working in gaming law and regulation, cases like this highlight just how important licensing, compliance, and regulatory review are to the health and sustainability of the industry. The Primm properties, which sit right on the Nevada and California border, are a staple of the region and this approval ensures that gaming operations in Stateline will continue without disruption.

Read more here: https://fox5vegas.com/2026/06/25/nevada-gaming-control-board-recommends-approval-primm-gaming-licenses/

07/06/2026

Meet Jialiang “J.L.” Huang! 🌟

J.L. is an LL.M. Candidate in Gaming Law and Regulation at the William S. Boyd School of Law, and he brings a truly remarkable perspective to the program. With over 10 years of experience in the gaming industry working both on the Strip and in tribal casinos, J.L. has seen firsthand just how diverse and meaningful this industry can be.

It was his experience in tribal gaming that truly shaped his path. As J.L. puts it, for tribal nations, gaming is not just business. It is sovereignty, a voice, a source of real influence, and a way to make sure their communities are heard. That up close look at what tribal gaming means to Indigenous communities is ultimately what drew him to gaming law.

And J.L. is not just passionate about where gaming has been. He is equally excited about where it is going. In his own words:

“Gaming is no longer standing still. It’s evolving faster than ever, becoming more global, more diverse, and increasingly shaped by technology. Traditional gaming has to keep reinventing itself to keep up. And through all of that change, I believe compliance is the one thing that makes healthy growth possible. Without it, an industry doesn’t evolve, it destroys itself. I want to be part of making sure this industry grows the right way, responsibly and sustainably, as it steps into its next chapter.”

We are so proud to have J.L. in our program and we cannot wait to see everything he accomplishes! 🎓⚖️

07/03/2026

SEEKING SPONSORS! 💚

07/02/2026

Applications for the Fall Semester LL.M. in Gaming Law and Regulation at the William S. Boyd School of Law are still open! 🎓⚖️

If you are ready to study gaming law in the heart of Las Vegas, the world’s most influential gaming jurisdiction, there is no better place to do it than Boyd Law. Our program places students at the center of the industry, learning directly from professors who have helped shape gaming law, regulation, compliance, tribal gaming, and sports wagering.

As the only LL.M. in Gaming Law and Regulation in the world, Boyd Law offers students unmatched access to globally renowned gaming professionals, regulators, and policymakers right here in Las Vegas. Whether you are interested in gaming compliance, tribal gaming, sports wagering, or emerging technologies, this program will give you the legal foundation and the real world connections to build a career in one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

Do not wait to take the next step in your legal career and join our growing community of gaming law professionals!

🔗 Apply now: https://law.unlv.edu/admissions/llm-gaming-law/apply

Address

4505 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV
89154

Website

https://law.unlv.edu/admissions/llm-gaming-law

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