Arizona Law Student Recipient of 2017 Gaming Law Scholarship

University of Arizona Law 3L Joshua Messick earned the 2017 International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) Shannon Bybee Scholarship for his Arizona Law Review article, Rejecting the Zero-Sum Game in Daily Fantasy Sports.

Scholarly research papers submitted for the scholarship had to either enhance the understanding of gaming law or recommend a beneficial gaming law change.

Messick’s article recommends that Arizona resolve the uncertain legal status of daily fantasy sports by passing legislation that would legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports in the state, while satisfying the countervailing interests of Arizona tribes and the Arizona Indian Gaming Association.

He argues that while Arizona has historically banned daily fantasy sports, the state’s consumers need protection, and Arizona’s economy is being deprived of revenue.

“Arizona is unique because the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact has a ‘poison-pill’ provision that is triggered if the state expands gaming outside of that allowed in the compact,” Messick says. “I analyze a few other states as examples of successful legislation and look at past attempts in Arizona.”

“My proposal for Arizona includes the ideal definition of daily fantasy sports, appropriate consumer protections, operator licensing fees and taxes, regulatory oversight, and compliance with the compact,” he adds.

Messick says he is appreciative of his faculty note advisor, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Catherine O’Grady, who alerted him about the scholarship opportunity and helped him submit the article.

The article is set to publish in the Arizona Law Review’s spring 2018 issue.

The Shannon Bybee Scholarship Award was established to honor the memory of Shannon Bybee, one of IAGA’s founders who had a distinguished gaming career as a gaming attorney, Nevada regulator, industry executive and pioneer in the field of education in casino operations and gaming law.