About John Devendorf, Esq.
John Devendorf is a graduate of UCLA and holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a Distinguished Scholar, recipient of the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, and a participant in the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Clinic and special delegation to Haiti.
A licensed attorney for more than a decade, John transitioned to a career as a legal content writer and editor after an externship with the IRS, a judicial clerkship, and practicing at a civil litigation firm in Princeton, New Jersey. John now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys writing, international travel, and escape rooms.
Articles written by John Devendorf, Esq.
Pick'em DFS: Laws To Know For Peer-to-Peer Contests
Since legalization, sports betting and fantasy sports contests have exploded in popularity. After a U.S. Supreme Court ruling opened sports betting to states, most now allow some form of sports gambling. However, there is a difference between sports wagering and fantasy sports contests. In most states, sports wagering is gambling, but daily fantasy contests are games of skill. Games of skill don't have the same state regulations as gambling. Betting on daily …
Professional Athlete Sports Betting: Legal Steps and Penalties
The majority of states have legalized sports betting, including casino sportsbooks and online betting apps. Sports gambling is legal for most adults, but professional athletes face restrictions on when they can bet and which events they can bet on. Professional athletic leagues generally limit sports betting for players and employees. However, professional athletes can also face criminal charges for game manipulation and match fixing. For more information about the legal risks of professional …
College Athlete NIL Deals: Legal Risks Of Contracts
When college athletes were finally able to earn money from their athletic talents, many student-athletes focused only on the potential benefits. However, there are also legal risks of signing sports contracts with college athletic departments. Signing a contract imposes a legal obligation on both parties, and any breach can expose one party to damages. College athletes must understand the legal obligations of a name, image, and likeness contract with universities and college sports collectives. …
2026 Gambling Loss Deduction: How To Claim The New 90% Limit
When you bet on sports and win, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will happily take its cut of your income. However, it is up to you to claim your gambling losses when you itemize your tax deductions. Gaming platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings will notify the IRS when your winnings exceed a certain amount. But the sportsbooks will not report your net losses. You have to itemize your deductions to show your gambling losses to offset your winnings. Under new tax rules, you can only …
FanDuel Tax Guide 2026: Steps To Report Your Betting Winnings
When you bet on sports and win, you have to report your winnings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Gambling winnings count as income for tax purposes. You must report your winnings as regular income. However, you can also deduct a portion of your sports betting losses. Understand your tax reporting obligations for FanDuel and other sportsbook apps. If you have questions about sports betting income, losses, and deductions, talk to a local tax law attorney. Reporting FanDuel Winnings FanDuel …
Sports Betting Taxes 2026: The New $2,000 W-2G Rule Explained
When you bet on sports and win, you have to report your gambling winnings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Many people use their sports knowledge and experience to make educated bets on gaming outcomes. Some of the most common types of sports betting include the moneyline, over/under, and point spread. However, with modern sportsbook apps, bettors can make any type of sports wager. With the $2,000 threshold reporting requirement, your sports betting app must report your qualifying …
Redistricting Impacts: How New District Maps Affect Your Vote
Voters focus on the candidates on the ballot, but the district's boundaries can have just as much influence on an election. Redistricting determines which neighborhoods are grouped together to elect representatives to Congress and state legislatures. Because these maps change after every census, the district where you vote may look very different from one decade to the next. Understanding the legal principles behind redistricting can help explain how new district maps may affect your vote. …
Absentee Voting Laws: State-by-State Legal Guide
Abstentee voting laws allow for early voting, as ballots are sent in advance of election day. For many voters, casting a ballot by mail offers flexibility that in-person voting cannot. Behind that convenience is a detailed set of election laws that determine how absentee ballots are requested, handled, and counted. States differ in their eligibility rules, submission deadlines, and procedures for reviewing ballots upon arrival at election offices. When questions arise about whether a ballot was …
Medicare Drug Price Negotiations: Which Prescription Costs Are Dropping?
Medication costs account for a large portion of people's healthcare costs. Many older people have their drugs covered by the Medicare Part D drug plan. However, even with covered prescriptions, some older people cannot take their drugs because of cost. The high costs of prescriptions can pose a health risk to patients choosing between necessary medication and affording food or rent. Medicare's drug price negotiations can reduce the cost of many common drugs. The Centers for Medicare & …
Understanding Your Rights: Guardrails for AI in Medicare Coverage Decisions
With the growing use of AI in healthcare, many older adults worry about how it will affect their medical benefits. Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans both use artificial intelligence to make coverage and prior authorization decisions. However, there are guardrails to ensure people still have a human involved in their healthcare decisions. Medicare recipients should understand how Medicare and MA plans use AI in coverage decisions. If your insurance plan …
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