Practice / Game & App Developer Counsel
Practice Area
Game & App Developer Counsel
We regularly advise studios and publishers on the legal questions that come with a U.S. launch: whether a sweepstakes or reward model is lawful, how to handle free entry, player verification and location rules, and how to respond to an IP complaint against your app.
What We Handle
Launch in the U.S. market with compliance settled first.
- Sweepstakes & game complianceSweepstakes, social casino and skill-game models reviewed under U.S. law, including AMOE, KYC and geolocation requirements.
- App IP disputesCease-and-desist letters, infringement complaints against your app, and non-infringement actions in federal court.
How It Works
Clear steps, explained in plain language.
- 01
Understand the game
We review how the game works: rewards, currencies, prizes and how players enter.
- 02
Identify the issues
We map the model against the elements of prize, chance and consideration, and the states where you plan to operate.
- 03
Advise
Practical recommendations on structure, free entry, official rules, player verification and restricted states.
- 04
Stay current
We help you adjust as state laws and platform policies change.
Common Questions
What clients ask us first
Is my sweepstakes game legal?
It depends on how the game is structured. Illegal gambling generally involves a prize, chance and consideration together; lawful sweepstakes remove at least one of them, most often consideration through a free method of entry.
What is AMOE?
An "alternative method of entry" — a free way to enter that gives players the same chance to win as a paid route. It is central to most sweepstakes models.
Do the rules differ by state?
Yes. State laws differ significantly, and several states have recently moved to restrict certain online sweepstakes models. Geolocation and restricted-state lists matter.
Can you help with skill-based games?
Yes. Whether a game is treated as skill or chance depends on the game and the state, and we help assess where your game stands.
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