Related Practices

Education

J.D., cum laude, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law, 2006
B.A., Sociology and Criminal Justice, Montana State University, 2002

Bar Admissions

Nevada, 2006

Clerkships

Honorable James A. Rice, Montana Supreme Court

Karl F. Rutledge

Associate

vCard

Las Vegas

3993 Howard Hughes Pkwy.
Suite 600
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

Phone 702.949.8317

Fax 702.949.8324

About Karl Rutledge

Karl Rutledge is an attorney in the Gaming practice group in the firm’s Las Vegas office. He focuses on Internet gaming, contests, sweepstakes, privacy policies, and website terms and conditions. Karl has been listed in Best Lawyers in America® in the category of Gaming Law since 2012.

Internet Gaming. Karl helps established and emerging online gaming companies operate legally in the U.S. under state and federal law. His experience includes Internet poker, fantasy sports, skill-based games, and social games.

For Karl, risk analysis and creative business structuring is the name of the game as he helps clients pursue new game offerings. It’s his job to analyze a client’s online gaming business model against existing federal and state gambling statutes, determine their level of risk, and if necessary, make recommendations on how to transform a potentially illegal idea into lawful gaming enterprise.

Karl also serves as an ongoing advocate for his clients and their gaming interests. He often writes reasoned legal opinion letters and participates in conference calls to reassure advertisers, potential investors and payment processors that his clients’ businesses constitute a lawful operation.

Karl regularly interfaces with gaming regulators to advocate for the legalization of Internet poker at the federal and state levels and to expand permitted gaming offerings. He’s currently representing a client who wants to bring skill games into casinos.

Contests, Sweepstakes, Privacy Policies and Website Terms and Conditions. Karl works with companies that run online and/or in-person contests, promotions and sweepstakes to draft the necessary rules associated with those activities. Karl also regularly drafts website privacy policies and terms and conditions of use for companies. Recently, he drafted rules for the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee as well as website privacy policies and contests rules for a leading fantasy sports operator. For websites in general, Karl has drafted hundreds of terms and conditions statements and privacy policies.

Personal. Before becoming a lawyer, Karl worked as a rodeo clown and bullfighter.

Memberships and Affiliations

American Bar Association, Member
Clark County Bar Association, Member
Young Gaming Attorney in Nevada of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), Affiliated Member

Publications

Karl previously served as an Associate Editor of Casino Lawyer Magazine, published and distributed by the International Masters of Gaming Law. An active writer on gaming topics, Karl has authored or co-authored at least 37 articles since 2008. Some of those articles are highlighted below.

Co-Author, "Nevada Becomes the First State to Legalise Inter-State Online Gambling," iGaming Business, March/April 2013
Co-Author, "The Nevada Legislature's 77th Session and The Legalization of Interstate Online Gambling," Casino Enterprise Management, April 2013
Co-Author, "A Practical Guide for Offering Online Contest and Promotions," Lewis and Roca Gaming Booklet, April 2013
Co-Author, "Online Gambling in the US: 2012 Year End Review,” iGaming Business (International), December 2012
Co-Author, "Nevada Update: Regulation of Internet Poker, Part 2," Casino Enterprise Management, November 2012
Co-Author, "Nevada Update: Regulation of Internet Poker," Casino Enterprise Management, August 2012
Featured in Lifestyles section of Casino Enterprise Management Magazine discussing his pre-attorney days working as a rodeo clown and bullfighter, June 2012
Co-Author, “Gaming Law Career Opportunities for Law Students,” The Gaming Law Review and Economics Symposium, December 2011
Co-Author, "Betting on the US Market: A Discussion of the Legality of Sports Gaming Businesses,” Thunderbird International Business Review, © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., November/December 2011
Co-Author, "Legalizing Internet Gaming, Part VI: Problem and Underage Gambling," Casino Enterprise Management, June 2011
Co-Author, "Legalizing Internet Gaming, Part IV: Enforcement," Casino Enterprise Management, May 2011
Co-Author, "Legalizing Internet Gaming, Part III: Regulating The Operation," Casino Enterprise Management, April 2011
Co-Author, "Legalizing Internet Gaming, Part II: State Governments vs. Private Parties," Casino Enterprise Management, March 2011
Co-Author, "Legalizing Internet Gaming, Part I: Benefits and Concerns," Casino Enterprise Management, February 2011
Co-Author, “Assessing the Legality of Internet Sweepstakes in the US,” World Online Gambling Law Report, Volume 9, Issue 9, September, 2010
Co-Author, "Economic Value, Equal Dignity and the Future of Sweepstakes," UNLV Gaming Law Journal, Spring 2010
Co-Author, “Internet Gaming: Boundless Potential in a Bounded Statutory Framework,” iGaming Business, May/June 2010
Co-Author, "Alex Rodriguez, a Monkey and the Game of Scrabble: The Hazard of Using Illogic to Define Legality of Games of Mixed Skill and Chance," Drake Law Review, February 2009

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Casino Industry Regulation Course," UNLV College of Hotel Administration, October 2012
Speaker,"Casino Law: The Interaction Between Social Media and Gaming," New Jersey State Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting, October 13, 2012
Moderator, "State of the Union: CEO Panel," eGaming Review North America Power Summit, September 2012
Co-Panelist, "Tournaments, Contests and Promotions," Gaming Law Conference, November 2011
Panelist, "Why The Internet Will Change Everything," CasinoFest 9, May 2011
Panelist, "This Isn't Your Grandfather's Gambling," ABA Young Lawyers Division, Spring Conference, May 2011

Other Distinctions

Mr. Rutledge is listed in the 2012 - 2013 editions of The Best Lawyers in America®, by Woodward/White, Aiken, S.C. in the category of Gaming Law. He is featured in the 2011 edition of Legal Elite, as published by Nevada Business, in the "Top 100 Attorneys in Southern Nevada" category and in the "Top 20 Up and Coming Attorneys in Nevada" category. He is also included in the 2010 and 2012 edition of Mountain States Rising Stars in the category of Gaming.

Mr. Rutledge was recognized by the Clark County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada during the ninth annual Pro Bono Awards Luncheon held on December 11, 2009. He appeared on the 2009 Attorney Honor Roll for his 100 hours of Pro Bono service. He was also recently recognized for his commitment to pro bono service at the firm's annual John P. Frank Pro Bono Awards Luncheon.

In addition, Mr. Rutledge was the recipient of the Certificate of Commendation from Senator Harry Reid and the recipient of Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, both in December of 2009.