NCLGS WINTER MEETING AGENDA*

Wednesday, December 10

NCLGS Attendee Kickoff Reception (sponsored by EDGE Boost)

Thursday, December 11

General Session - Sweeps at the Crossroads: Legislation, Litigation, and the Future of Sweepstakes Models

Sweepstakes models have surged across the United States, offering gaming-like experiences outside traditional regulatory structures. With state legislatures, courts, and regulators now grappling with their legality, definition, and consumer protections, the future of sweeps is in flux. This panel brings together policymakers and industry leaders to explore the legal battles, policy approaches, and regulatory frameworks shaping the space.

Committee on Indian Gaming - Power and Sovereignty: Tribal Titans on the Future of Gaming in Indian Country

Some of the most influential tribal leaders in the United States will discuss the role of sovereign tribal nations in shaping the future of the gaming industry. This panel offers an unprecedented opportunity to hear directly from leaders whose decisions will determine the future of capital investment, employment and other factors throughout the domestic gaming industry. Topics will range from tribal-state compacts, iGaming expansion and sports betting to capital reinvestment, the prediction market, sweeps and protecting tribal sovereignty in a shifting legal and political environment.

Networking Break 

General Session - Saying Yes to NIL

NCLGS will delve into the multifaceted challenges related to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for college athletes, as well as the escalating issue of player harassment and the critical importance of sports betting integrity. Experts will discuss how NIL opportunities, while beneficial, can inadvertently expose athletes to increased online scrutiny and harassment, demanding robust protective measures. The session will explore the potential impact of NIL and increased betting on the integrity of sports, highlighting strategies to safeguard fair play and maintain public trust.

Committee on Lottery 

Puerto Rico launched the first modern, government-operated lottery in the Western Hemisphere in 1934. That innovation focused on generating fiscal revenue in a structured, regulated fashion. Policymakers today face a similar challenge, but in a much more competitive and digitized environment. Today’s lottery landscape is far more complex: digital technology, ubiquitous gaming options, and shifting consumer expectations demand forward-looking strategies. What should the modern lottery look like? The Committee will cover digital transformation, iLottery, mobile apps, instant win games as well as the future integration of lotteries with the broader gaming ecosystem. Our experts will also discuss: Responsible Play & Consumer Trust, Innovation in Game Design, Global Inspiration, Public Finance Pressure.

Special Committee on Payments

Credit cards have long been the consumers’ funding method of choice for digital wagering, but the gaming industry is at an inflection point. Some major operators will no longer accept credit card deposits, while legislators in various states are proposing to prohibit credit card wagers altogether. So, what comes next? This Committee will explore the emerging landscape of payments innovation across both online and land-based gaming platforms, as well as the role that cryptocurrencies will play in iGaming’s future. The committee will explore how payment modernization can enhance consumer protection, ensure transparency, and help the regulated market compete against unregulated operators who are already embracing new technologies.

General Session - Meet the Regulators and Legislators Leading Puerto Rico Gaming

The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, established under the 2019 Government of Puerto Rico Gaming Commission Act, serves as the central regulatory authority for gambling activities – overseeing casinos, slot machines, sports betting, horse racing, and eSports. Various functions that were previously managed by separate entities, including the Horse Racing Industry, Sport Administration and the Games of Chance Division of the Tourism Office, are now consolidated in one agency that must regulate and guide the future of gaming in Puerto Rico. Meet the legislators and regulators who are leading the charge.

Friday, December 12 

Committee on Casinos– Managing Brick-and-Mortar in a World of Expanding Options

What is the future of brick-and-mortar casinos in an increasingly complex world of expanding gambling options? How can this pillar of gaming’s past and present adapt to a future in which emerging generations demand new options? As policymakers debate the expansion of gaming in more states – while adding new verticals in existing markets – what options and strategies offer the brightest future? NCLGS will explore the intersection of iGaming, charitable gaming, VGTs, the unregulated illegal market and brick-and-mortar operations. The committee will examine the opportunities and challenges for stakeholders across the gaming ecosystem.

Committee on Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling initiatives can mean very different things depending on the stakeholder: prevention and treatment advocates, operators, regulators, players, and even technology vendors. When legislatures convene in 2026, lawmakers will face new questions on what “responsible gaming” should look like – whether it’s consumer protection, problem gambling prevention, advertising standards, youth safeguards, or industry accountability. This panel will help legislators cut through the noise, understand evolving definitions, and prepare for upcoming bills, debates, and regulatory proposals.

Committee on the Judiciary– Illegal Gambling Enforcement 2.0

This Committee will examine the value of multi-jurisdictional cooperation and new alliances in curbing the threat posed by illegal gambling websites and operators. Illegal gambling is capturing an estimated one-third of the U.S. market, with many of the operators based offshore and beyond the jurisdictional reach of U.S. law enforcement authorities Also, prediction markets that are claiming to offer “legal sports betting in all 50 states” – albeit without state licensure – have largely escaped state enforcement efforts by seeking refuge under a federal commodities law that was never intended to cover sports gambling. How should states respond?

Could multi-agency and multi-stakeholder cooperation be the key to success? Collaboration between state attorneys general, gaming regulators and lawmakers can be an effective alliance in addressing this challenge. How can Native American tribes work more closely with state-licensed casinos and sports-betting operators to meet this challenge? In this rapidly unfolding future, local prosecutors are partnering with class-action law firms in high-stakes litigation against sweepstakes casinos and their suppliers. Our panel of experts will discuss these and other cutting-edge strategies designed to combat illegal gambling operations.

Saturday, December  13

NCLGS International General Session – The Nexus Between Money Laundering and Gaming: Unveiling Vulnerabilities and Strengthening Defenses

Casinos and gambling platforms – both online and land-based – are increasingly targeted by criminal networks as channels to move and disguise illicit funds. While money laundering through gaming can take many forms, one of the most concerning trends is its connection to human trafficking, where traffickers exploit the sector to wash profits generated from exploitation. This panel will provide an introduction to the vulnerabilities of the gaming industry, examining how illicit actors – sometimes with the sector’s unwitting participation – use casinos, betting platforms, and payment systems to conceal criminal proceeds. Panelists will discuss emerging typologies, red flags, and case studies that illustrate how exploitation and financial crime intersect in gaming. The conversation will also explore the broader challenges regulators and operators face in detecting these risks, the importance of international cooperation, and practical steps to strengthen AML/CFT frameworks that safeguard the industry from being misused.

Committee on Emerging Forms of Gaming

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how gaming operates – from customer acquisition and personalization to dynamic odds and betting trends. At the same time, AI poses new risks to the integrity of digital and land-based lotteries and gaming operations. This panel will explore both the opportunities and dangers: how AI can enhance engagement, but also how it could be misused to manipulate systems or mimic randomness in ways that challenge fairness. With regulators and legislators facing uncharted territory, our experts will discuss how policy can keep pace with these fast-moving technologies.

NCLGS Winter Meeting Concludes

*Agenda subject to change