Glenn Light, Lewis Roca Photo

Glenn J. Light

Chair - Commercial Gaming Group, Partner
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Glenn provides practical solutions to his clients’ problems, and understands the importance of hard work and diligence to meet their business goals.

Glenn Light is a Partner and Chair of the firm's Gaming Industry Group. He provides counsel on nearly every aspect of commercial gaming transactions, including corporate structure, financing, and due diligence. He represents all stakeholders in the industry, including individuals, operators, manufacturers, distributors, and service providers.

Glenn serves as lead counsel to a client who, in the span of approximately two years, has purchased four hotel/casino properties in Nevada, a publicly traded gaming company, and numerous public card room operations in Washington State. Glenn provides counsel on nearly every aspect of these complex transactions, including the ownership and management structure, licensing, financing, and drafting numerous ancillary agreements relating to hotel and casino operations, staffing, and vendors. He also played key roles in the opening of two casino resorts in Las Vegas, both of which received a significant amount of funding through the federal EB-5 Program. Prior to these transactions, the EB-5 Program was seldom-used in the gaming industry.

Glenn regularly appears before the Nevada Gaming Control ‎Board and Nevada Gaming Commission. He has significant experience conducting multijurisdictional licensing projects and has participated in regulatory and licensing matters in ‎numerous tribal, state, and international jurisdictions including Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and Singapore.‎ He is a prolific author and speaker on gaming related matters and teaches a gaming regulation course at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Leadership Highlights

  • International Masters of Gaming Law, Affiliated Member – Counsel
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, Adjunct Professor “Gaming Industry Regulation,” Fall Semester (Continuing)
  • Prolific author and speaker on gaming-related matters
  • The Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year," Gaming Law, 2022
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Gaming Law, 2019-2022
  • Chambers USA, Gaming and Licensing, 2020-2022
  • Vegas Inc., Top Lawyers, Gaming, 2021

Personal Approach

Glenn’s admiration and interest in the gaming industry is reflected through his extensive industry expertise. Clients trust and rely on Glenn to help advance their business goals by navigating them through the complex regulatory regimes that govern the gaming industry. He is always at the ready and prepared to deal with developments in policies and regulations that affect his clients and is prompt to form an action plan. No matter the obstacle, Glenn is a consummate professional who vigorously advocates for his client's interest.

Glenn was born and raised in Romsey, England. He now resides in Las Vegas with his wife, two daughters, and son. ‎He enjoys watching English Premier League soccer and is an avid supporter of Southampton F.C.‎

More About Glenn J. Light

Education

  • LL.M., summa cum laude, University of Notre Dame Law School, London Law Program, 2006
  • LL.B., University of Southampton School of Law, England, 2005

Bar Admissions

  • Nevada, 2008
  • New York, 2008

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, District of Nevada

Community

  • Clark County Bar Association, Member
  • New York State Bar Association, Member

Representative Matters

  • Licensing of casinos in Nevada and elsewhere, including a billion dollar integrated resort in the Bahamas.
  • Licensing of manufacturers and distributors of gaming devices and systems in Nevada, New York, Australia, the Dominican Republic, Ontario, the Philippines, and Singapore.
  • Licensing of operators of interactive gaming systems in Nevada, including representing the first licensee to launch its real-money poker website in Nevada.
  • Licensing of interactive gaming service providers, manufacturers of interactive gaming systems, and distributors of interactive gaming systems in Nevada. 
  • Licensing of payment processing service providers, patron identification service providers, and geo-location service providers in Nevada, including representing the first licensee to be granted these licenses by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
  • Licensing of race books in Nevada. 
  • Local counsel for the senior lenders to Herbst Gaming, Inc. in relation to their conversion of debt into equity, during bankruptcy, of what is now known as Affinity Gaming, LLC. 
  • Approvals for games and promotional devices. 
  • Local county and city gaming, liquor, and business licenses.

Honors & Recognitions

  • Trailblazers - Sports/Gaming/Entertainment Law, The National Law Journal, 2022
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Gaming Law, 2019-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year", Gaming Law, 2022
  • Chambers USA, Gaming & Licensing, Nationwide, 2023
  • Chambers USA, Gaming and Licensing, Nevada, 2020-2023
  • Vegas Inc., 40 Under 40, 2023
  • Vegas Inc., Top Lawyers, Gaming, 2021-2023
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Gaming, 2012-2023
  • Nevada Business Magazine, Southern Nevada, Legal Elite, Gaming and Regulatory and Government, 2018
  • John P. Frank Pro Bono Awards Luncheon, Recognized by Clark County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Pro bono service, 2009
  • Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, 2009
  • Certificate of Commendation from Senator Harry Reid, 2009
  • Attorney Honor Roll, 100 hours of pro bono service, 2009

News

Publications

Blog Posts

Events

Glenn is an active speaker on gaming law. He has been a panelist and moderator at gaming conferences and state bar functions. He has also taught courses at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A list of his speaking engagements follows:

  • Presenter, UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, Comparative Gaming Law, June 2022

  • Adjunct Professor, “Gaming Industry Regulation Course,” William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, UNLV, Fall Semester 2017-2019
  • Speaker, "Sports and Online Betting," ACC Nevada November 2019 CLE Luncheon," November 2019
  • Presenter, “Financing Gaming Operations: What Business Lawyers Need to Know from Development to Bankruptcy,” ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 12, 2019
  • Presenter, “Gaming Law Basics for Business Lawyers: Sports Betting, Online Gaming & Tribal Casinos,” 2019 Business Law Section Spring Meeting, March 29, 2019
  • Presenter, "Sports Wagering - Issues and Widespread Effects of Christie Decision," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2018
  • Presenter, "Your Client’s Online Activities and the Law: A Case Study of Typical Cyber Law, Intellectual Property and Promotional Gaming Violations Facing Companies Today," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2017
  • Presenter, “Structuring a Casino Industry: Part I,” Comparative Gaming Law, William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, February 2017
  • Presenter, “Structuring a Casino Industry: Part II,” Comparative Gaming Law, William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, February 2017
  • Presenter, "Addressing Problem Gambling," Comparative Gaming Law, UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, January 2017
  • Presenter, "State vs. Federal Issues: Part II," UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, October 26, 2016
  • Presenter, "State vs. Federal Issues," UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, October 24, 2016
  • Moderator, "Online Activities - Your Clients Cause Perilous Pitfalls without Suitable Guidance", ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2016   
  • Moderator, "Comparative Law," UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, February 16th and 18th, 2016
  • Presenter, "State vs. Federal Issues," UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, October 12th and 14th, 2015
  • Moderator, "Why Your Corporate Clients’ Mundane Online Presence May Trigger Several Not So Mundane Consequences," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2015
  • Presenter, "Registration of Gaming Employees," UNLV Casino Industry Regulation Course, December 2014
  • Speaker, “Online Gaming in the U.S.,” Casino Industry Regulation Course, UNLV, November 2014
  • Speaker, “Legal Aspects of Gaming,” UNLV International Gaming Institute, William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, Casino Industry Regulation Course for the Macao Polytechnic Institute, June 2013 and June 2014
  • Speaker, “Advertising and Conduct on Premises,” UNLV Casino Industry Regulation Course, October 2012
  • Speaker, “Understanding the Investigations Division,” UNLV Casino Industry Regulation Course, September 2012
  • Speaker and Moderator, "Casino Law: The Interaction Between Social Media and Gaming," New Jersey State Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting, October 2012  
  • Moderator, "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  
  • Speaker, "What is Gambling Under the Law?" Drake Law School Gaming Law Synopsis, September 2008
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