Bio

Melanie laCour’s practice focuses on advising on a wide range of gaming-related regulatory, licensing, corporate and compliance matters with an emphasis on obtaining and maintaining licensure for sports wagering and online gaming operators, technology providers, equipment suppliers and vendors throughout North America. As the sports betting and online gaming markets continue to evolve, Melanie stays abreast of current legislative and regulatory initiatives to advise clients on upcoming changes to state gaming regulations and licensing requirements. Melanie also focuses on skill-based contests and sweepstakes, helping clients to navigate the complex layers of federal and state laws, ensuring their operations conform to legal requirements and implement risk mitigation practices.

Melanie draws on her extensive experience in the gaming industry to guide clients through a range of regulatory and transactional matters. Prior to entering private practice, Melanie served as an Assistant Counsel with the New York State Gaming Commission, the regulatory body which oversees all legalized gaming activity in New York, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, Class III Indian gaming, the state lottery, commercial casino and video lottery gaming, sports wagering, interactive fantasy sports and charitable gaming. Melanie represented the Commission at administrative proceedings and acted as a legal advisor to all Commission divisions, offering regulatory interpretation and guidance.

Prior to joining the New York State Gaming Commission, Melanie served as a criminal prosecutor in North Dakota and as the General Counsel of a technology services company focused on providing data processing, accounting and technology solutions to the pari-mutuel gaming industry.

Melanie received her B.A. from the University of Kentucky in 2006 and her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2009. In 2013, Melanie earned her M.S. in Animal Sciences at the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program.