The Greater New Orleans Broadcasting Association, Inc. v. United States case in 1998 revolved around the issue of commercial speech and its protection under the First Amendment. The broadcasting association challenged a federal law that prohibited radio and television stations from airing advertisements for casino gambling if they were broadcasted in states where such gambling was legal. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the broadcasters, stating that this ban violated their free-speech rights protected by the First Amendment to advertise lawful private conduct - a decision which expanded constitutional protections for commercial speech. This ruling emphasized that government could not suppress truthful information about lawful activities out of fear it might be persuasive or lead citizens to choose unwisely according to some subjective standard.

In the dissenting opinion for Greater New Orleans Broadcasting Association, Inc., et al. v. United States et al., Justice Stevens argued that the majority's decision was inconsistent with previous rulings on commercial speech and First Amendment rights. He contended that the government had a substantial interest in regulating gambling advertisements to protect citizens from potential harm associated with gambling addiction and financial instability. Furthermore, he maintained that banning such ads did not violate broadcasters' free speech rights as they were not being prevented from discussing or reporting on gambling; rather, they were simply prohibited from promoting it commercially. Additionally, he pointed out inconsistencies in how different forms of media were treated under this ruling - while broadcast media could advertise state-run lotteries but not private casino gaming due to their wider reach and influence over vulnerable populations like children or those prone to addiction.