Fanatics names former Indiana Gaming Commission director as senior vp of authorized

Fanatics Betting and Gaming has named the previous government director of the Indiana Gaming Commission to function a prime authorized government.

The on-line sports activities betting platform introduced on March 16 that Sara Tait will function senior vp and head of authorized and controlled industries alongside new Chief Legal Officer Alex Smith.

“FBG’s people and its leadership team are loaded with talent and Fanatics is driven by a strong strategic vision,” Tait stated in an announcement to The Indiana Lawyer. “Having worked with the company for several years, I know Fanatics has a deep commitment to best practices and doing things the right way. These elements are essential to growing a successful gaming company.”

Tait will report back to Smith and maintain a number of duties throughout Fanatics Betting and Gaming, together with serving as authorized counsel to the regulated gaming and markets merchandise and managing the platform’s relationships with federal and state regulators.

She’s additionally tasked with sustaining the model’s federal and state licenses and registrations and can assist authorities affairs efforts.

“Sara is a well-respected former gaming regulator who also has experience in the private sector, making her the ideal choice to lead critical legal and regulatory efforts,” Smith stated. “The legal and regulatory landscape for sports betting, iCasino and prediction markets are constantly changing and having someone that has been on both sides of the regulatory landscape will be invaluable to us as we continue our growth trajectory.”

Tait stepped down from the Indiana Gaming Commission in 2021 after six years within the position. During her time with the fee, Tait helped launch the state’s regulatory system for sports activities betting, led negotiations for Indiana’s first tribal-state compact and managed the development and openings of three land-based on line casino tasks. In 2019, the fee gave remaining approval for the state’s two horse-track casinos to launch live-dealer desk video games.

Her tenure additionally noticed a number of vital rulings involving casinos and their operators, together with a settlement with Rod Ratcliff, former chief government for Centaur Gaming and Spectacle Entertainment, who was completely banned from Indiana’s playing business in March 2021. Ratcliff’s ban stemmed from the fee’s discovery of a number of situations of wrongdoing on his half, together with allegations that he funneled cash from Centaur into a private playing account.