CHICAGO, IL – Neil Bluhm, co-founder and Chairman of Rush Street Gaming, will be the Luncheon Keynote speaker at the Summer Meeting of the National Council of Legislations from Gaming States (NCLGS), July 11-13, at the InterContinental Magnificent Mile. Bluhm’s speaking engagement with NCLGS will be a highlight of the first major in-person gaming conference in more than a year.

Bluhm and Rush Street co-founder Greg Carlin launched Rush Street Gaming’s U.S. casino operations in 2008. Together they have built one of North America’s fastest-growing gaming companies. Most recently they led Rush Street Interactive, their online casino and sports betting operation, into a public company through a reverse merger that closed last December. Bluhm first made his fortune as the co-founder of JMB Realty, one of the largest property ownership and real estate development companies in the United States with marquee developments across the country, including in his hometown of Chicago. He also founded the successful private equity firm Walton Street Capital. 

“These are exciting times for the gaming industry and for Rush Street Interactive, as exciting as my early days as a real estate developer,” Bluhm said. “With more states legalizing casino, on-line and mobile gaming, there are tremendous opportunities to work in partnership with lawmakers to grow our industry and create jobs and new tax revenues as we rebuild from the pandemic. The best is yet to come.”

In addition to the Bluhm keynote address, the three-day NCLGS Summer Meeting includes:

• Six legislative-chaired Committee sessions that will focus critical aspects of gaming, as follows:

  • Committee on Casinos: Representative Christie Carpino of Connecticut, NCLGS Officer

  • Committee on Emerging Forms of Gaming: Senator Jon Ford of Indiana, NCLGS Officer

  • Committee on Indian Gaming: Representative Georgene Louis of New Mexico, NCLGS Officer

  • Committee on Lotteries: Delegate Shawn Fluharty of West Virginia, NCLGS Officer

  • Committee on Pari-Mutuels: Senator Perry Thurston of Florida, NCLGS Vice President

  • Committee on Responsible Gaming: Senator Keith Pickard of Nevada, NCLGS President

• An International Masters of Gaming Law Masterclass that will focus on the topic: "Distributed Gaming- Legal and Otherwise"

• A general session panel discussion that will focus on the topic: "Gaming's Awkward Stage: How to Regulate a Mature Industry that is Still Emerging?"

• Morning and Luncheon keynote addresses

• Two evening networking receptions

• Co-location with the GLI University's Mid-Year Gaming Regulators Seminar 2021, which begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 11.

Due to the popular demand of this event, interested attendees should register early to guarantee attendance. Registration is open to the public and available here. Both NCLGS and the host InterContinental will fully adhere to CDC, state and local guidelines that govern public events.  For sponsorship information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Legislators and others seeking NCLGS membership information should contact Josh Faber at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

NCLGS is the only organization of state lawmakers that meets on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to gaming. Members of NCLGS serve as chairpersons or members of state legislative committees responsible for the regulation of gaming in their state legislative houses. NCLGS does not promote or oppose gaming but is primarily concerned with the regulation and economic and social impacts of the industry. The NCLGS Foundation is the educational and research arm of NCLGS. The 501(c)(3) non-profit is a source of non-partisan data on issues of gaming legislation and regulation. Learn more about NCLGS at https://www.nclgs.org/.

Spectrum Gaming Group, which has performed advisory and consulting work for gaming operators, regulators, and legislatures in 40 U.S. states and territories and in 48 countries on six continents, serves as Executive Director of NCLGS. Discover more about Spectrum at https://www.spectrumgaming.com/.