Sean Michael McGuinness

Sean McGuinness represents gaming industry clients in regulatory, licensing, and compliance matters across the United States. He advises commercial gaming operators, sports betting companies, tribal gaming entities, and financial institutions on regulatory requirements in Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Mississippi, and other jurisdictions. Sean handles matters before state gaming control boards and commissions, assists clients with licensing applications and regulatory approvals, and provides guidance on gaming bankruptcy proceedings. His practice encompasses both commercial and tribal gaming sectors, with particular focus on navigating multijurisdictional regulatory frameworks.

Sean’s regulatory practice includes representing gaming operators before the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Colorado Division of Gaming, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission, the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission, the Mississippi Gaming Commission, and the National Indian Gaming Commission. He has participated in gaming regulatory matters in Arizona, California, Canada, Illinois, Ireland, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, Switzerland, Tinian, and Washington. Sean counsels clients on licensing requirements, regulatory compliance, new game approvals, and the regulatory aspects of gaming industry transactions. He also represents banking clients in financing transactions involving licensed gaming entities.

Sean brings direct industry experience to his practice, having served as Vice President and General Counsel for The Resort at Summerlin (1997-2001), where he handled legal and regulatory matters for the Swiss Casinos-owned property. He previously served as Compliance Director for the Mississippi Gaming Commission (1992-1993), where he gained firsthand knowledge of regulatory enforcement and compliance procedures. Sean began his gaming law career as an administrative law clerk for the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission, involved with drafting of Iowa’s initial gaming regulations developing an understanding of regulatory processes from the government perspective. He maintained a private gaming law practice in Mississippi from 1994 to 1997. After his time with The Resort at Summerlin, Sean returned to private law practice of gaming law in 2001 and practiced gaming law for 25 years in his prior firms’ Las Vegas, Reno and Denver offices before joining Greenberg Traurig in 2026.

In addition to gaming regulatory work, Sean has experience in communications law, handling FCC broadcast licensing and compliance matters for radio stations in Colorado, Mississippi, and Nevada. This background provides him with broader regulatory perspective that informs his gaming practice.

Sean maintains active involvement in gaming law organizations, having served as Past Chair of the American Bar Association Business Law Section’s Gaming Law Committee and on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Nevada’s Gaming Law Section. He is a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors and International Masters of Gaming Law. Sean frequently presents on gaming law topics at industry conferences and has authored numerous articles on gaming regulation, compliance, and emerging industry issues.

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Gaming Law, 2009-2026
•Lawyer of the Year, Gaming Law (Denver), 2020 and 2025
•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Gaming & Licensing, 2008-2017 (Nevada) and 2021-2025 (Nationwide)
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Mountain State Super Lawyers
•Top 100 - Gaming, 2007-2018
•Listed, The Irish Legal 100, 2023
•Listed, Business Today, “Top 10 Nationwide Gaming & Licensing lawyers,” 2023
•Rated, AV Preeminent 4.9 out of 5.0