Nicole and I discuss the future of sports betting and i-gaming, and the importance of responsible gambling. Nicole's career, much like many other women, didn't initially involve gambling, but a stroke of serendipity led her to embrace a role at DraftKings.
As Corporate Counsel at DraftKings, you're deeply involved in various aspects of the gaming industry. How does your role intersect with the company's innovative pursuits?
Nicole: Innovation has always been deeply rooted in the company’s core. There is innovation in launching online sports betting in new states, developing new products, improving customer experience, understanding our customers’ behavior and analyzing that behavior, and creating Responsible Gaming initiatives. The legal team as a whole intersects with all of these initiatives and works with company stakeholders in analyzing and achieving innovative pursuits.
Coming from a background in civil litigation to specializing in gaming law, what adjustments did you have to make professionally, and how did you navigate this transition?
Nicole: After law school and for the first seven years of my career, I did almost exclusively civil litigation. My years in civil litigation taught me how to make effective arguments, interpret statutes and case law, analyze complicated legal issues, become an effective researcher, and improve my writing. All these skills have helped me in gaming law.
Approximately 3-4 years ago, I was working as an Associate Attorney at a big law firm called Blank Rome doing complex corporate litigation. The law firm I was working at had a Gaming Team and I started working on gaming projects with that team, which is how I got into the industry. We had a wide variety of gaming clients and through various projects I started to learn the ins and outs of the industry. My background in gaming law from the law firm helped prepare me for my current role at DraftKings which I started a little over seven months ago.
How do you stay updated on the ever-evolving legal landscape within the gaming industry?
Nicole: Reading is key! I subscribe to some industry newsletters that compile information and headlines on what is happening in the industry. This gives you a great starting point and from there you can do a deeper dive on whatever topics you need more information on. It’s also important to stay up to date on new or revised regulations in all the states we operate in, and we have a great team of people here at DraftKings with a process in place to accomplish this.
Reflecting on your journey, what pivotal experiences or mentors helped shape your understanding of gaming law and propel your career forward?
Nicole: I have had several influential mentors throughout my career as a lawyer, but I have some key mentors who have helped shape my career in gaming law. Dennis Ehling, a partner at Blank Rome, has been pivotal to my career in gaming. He has decades of experience as a gaming lawyer and took me under his wing to teach me the intricacies of the industry.
With Dennis and the other Blank Rome attorneys, including Steve Schrier, I got to work on projects touching sports betting, horse racing, iGaming, skill gaming, operators, vendors, licensing, commercial agreements, compliance, new ventures for clients, and the list goes on. I have also been lucky to work with great women through my involvement with Global Gaming Women (“GGW”), including Jennifer Roberts. GGW has been a great community and has introduced me to people I never would have come across otherwise.
Given the niche nature of gaming law, what advice would you offer to legal professionals looking to break into this field?
Nicole: If you are a law student, I highly recommend doing an internship or externship for a company in the gaming space to start learning the practical skills you need. Another option is to work for a law firm that has a gaming group. Generally, never be afraid to reach out to people and ask them about their career paths, how they got started, and for advice. I always say that people are never more willing to help you than when you are a student or just starting out in your career.
Looking ahead, what excites you the most about the future of gaming, both from a legal perspective and in terms of industry innovation?
Nicole: We have so much room to grow as an industry with product development and new state launches and it will be exciting to see where we are in 5 years, 10 years, and beyond!
What do women want (in sports betting)?
Nicole: Career women in sports betting want what many women strive for – a fair chance, to be valued team members, and to leave a legacy.
Val C. Martinez
Founder of BettingLadies.com
