Widener University To Offer Full-Semester Gaming Law Class

The rapid spread of legalized sports betting is driving a renewed interest and demand in the field of gaming law. The University of New Hampshire offers a sports wagering and integrity specific course. And Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Pennsylvania has just announced an expanded gaming law course beginning in the spring 2020 semester.

The instructor for the two-credit course will be Widener Law Commonwealth alumna Susan Hensel. Hensel currently serves as the director of licensing for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

“Pennsylvania is now one of the largest gaming states in the United States and we want to take a more active role in providing first-class educational opportunities to meet the demands of the legal community in serving this industry,” Widener University Dean Christian A. Johnson said in a press release.

“We are fortunate to have 1997 alumna Susan Hensel as our adjunct professor for the course. Susan previously was involved in the offering of a course on gaming law between semesters at Widener, and we found a strong interest among our students for this subject matter.  Moreover, the students found her to be extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic.”

About Hensel

Hensel is a familiar name in the gaming community.

The press release announcing the course summarizes her career:

“Hensel was the first person hired by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and continues as its director of licensing. She is the past president of the International Association of Gaming Regulators, a position she held for two terms. She recently stepped down from the board of trustees for that global organization.  She also is on the advisory board of All-In Diversity, a nonprofit organization with a global reach working to address issues of diversity and inclusion within the gaming sector. Hensel is a sought-after speaker on gaming law and regulation around the world, and has published numerous articles on gaming regulation.”

You can read an excellent, more in-depth writeup of Hensel’s career in this 2018 article by Global Gaming Business.

About the Course

The new course is an expanded version of a gaming law course Hensel has been teaching at Widener since 2017. According to the press release, it’s the first time the law school has offered a full, semester-long elective course on gaming law since 2009.

As Global Gaming Business explained in its 2018 writeup on Hensel:

“In 2017, Hensel decided she wanted to give something back to her law school, so she returned to Widener to see if she could teach a gaming law class. The school was most receptive and so she set out preparing for the task, and one of the first calls she made was to Anthony Cabot, of counsel, Lewis Roca Rothgerber & Christie. Hensel reports that Tony was most helpful and that he shared a great deal of advice on developing her syllabus and lectures. For her textbook, she used The Law of Gambling and Regulated Gaming, authored by Anthony Cabot and Keith Miller.”

About Widener University

Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, applied leadership, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. Widener University Commonwealth Law School is the Pennsylvania capital’s only law school, with three specialized centers of legal scholarship through its Law & Government Institute, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, and Business Advising Program. Widener Law Commonwealth offers an exceptional learning experience that is personal, practical, and professional. Visit commonwealthlaw.widener.edu for more information.