Sara Tait
Partner
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Phone: +1 312 499 6702
- Duane Morris LLP
190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3700
Chicago, IL 60603-3433
USA
Sara Gonso Tait serves as an advisor and legal counsel to all types of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, across the gaming industry and other highly regulated markets including crypto currency, cannabis and alcohol. Ms. Tait provides strategic advice and analysis of laws and regulations so clients can take advantage of opportunities and avoid risk.
Ms. Tait previously served as executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission. In that role, she was chief regulator of Indiana’s 13 casinos, an industry that brings in more than $500 million in tax revenues each year and employs more than 12,000 people. Ms. Tait was also responsible for regulating a significant charitable gaming industry, boxing and mixed martial arts, an illegal gambling police force, paid fantasy sports and sports wagering.
With broad skills in legislative, government, regulatory and tribal affairs, Ms. Tait brings a unique perspective that includes a wide array of experience with complicated and complex mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies. She also successfully launched retail and mobile sports betting on an aggressive timeline and created a nationally praised and replicated regulatory environment. Additionally, she was appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb to lead negotiations for the first ever tribal-state compact for class III gaming and subsequently shepherded the executed compact through the Indiana General Assembly. Ms. Tait also implemented innovative technology requests and countless significant capital investment projects.
Ms. Tait is a graduate of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (J.D., 2010) and Miami University (B.A., with honors, 2005).
Admitted in Indiana, Not Admitted in Illinois.
Areas of Practice
- Highly Regulated Industries
Compliance & Licensing
Corporate Governance
Government Affairs
Project Implementation
Mergers & Acquisitions
Product Development
Risk Management & Investigations
Admissions
- Indiana
Admitted in Indiana, Not Admitted in Illinois.
Education
- Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 2010
- Order of the Barristers - Miami University, B.A., with honors, 2005
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2024-present - Ice Miller LLP
- Partner, 2021-2024 - Indiana Gaming Commission
- Executive Director, 2015-2021
- General Counsel, 2014-2015
- Director of License Control, 2013-2014
- Staff, Attorney, 2011-2013
Professional Activities
International Masters of Gaming Law
International Association of Gaming Advisors
Advisor, Fanatics Betting and Gaming
Compliance Committee Chair, Betr
Civic and Charitable Activities
Board Member, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana
Board Member, 500 Festival
Volunteer, Kids Voice of Indiana (guardian ad litem)
Selected Speaking Engagements
Speaker, “Ethics Professional Responsibility,” AIM Conference, Noblesville, Indiana, June 20, 2024
Panelist, “Improving Regulator/Legislator Communications,” NAGRA Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, June 13, 2024
Panelist, "Regulating Cashless Payments: Bringing Together Panelists to Discuss Regulation, Technology and Innovation for Cashless Gaming," IMGL 2024 Spring Conference, April 11, 2024
- Panelist, “Responsible Investing,” RG Symposium, iGaming NEXT, New York City, March 5, 2024
Panelist, “Operating Successfully in Multiple Markets & Working Effectively with Regulators,” Gaming Law, Compliance, and Integrity Bootcamp, Seton Hall Law School, March 4, 2024
Speaker, "Today's Gaming Technology: Are the Regulations Keeping Pace?," 2023 SBC Summit North America, IMGL Masterclass, May 11, 2023
Speaker, "Compliance - Getting Your House in Order, " 2023 SBC Summit North America, May 11th, 2023
Panelist, "You Wanna Bet," 2022 APSE Summer Conference, June 16, 2022