Federal Judge Dismisses Evolution’s Patent Lawsuit

Can a casino game mechanic be patented? That was the core question in a legal battle between Evolution and Light & Wonder. Evolution, a leader in live dealer gaming, accused Light & Wonder of copying its Lightning Roulette concept with the launch of RouletteX. However, a U.S. District Court dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that Evolution’s patents covered abstract ideas rather than true innovations. With the decision favoring Light & Wonder, the case highlights the complexities of patent law in the gambling industry.

Federal Judge Dismisses Evolution’s Lawsuit Against Light & Wonder Over ‘Copycat’ Roulette Game

Key Points:

1. Federal Judge Rules Against Evolution, Declares Patents Invalid

   • Judge Cristina D. Silva dismissed the lawsuit, ruling Evolution’s patents failed to demonstrate technological innovation.
   • The patents described an abstract concept rather than a unique, patentable invention.

2. Evolution Alleged That RouletteX Copied Lightning Roulette

   • Evolution claimed Light & Wonder copied key mechanics, including random multipliers and animated lightning effects.
   • Light & Wonder allegedly had access to Evolution’s confidential game information during partnership talks.

3. Evolution Has Limited Options for Appeal

   • The judge granted Evolution 14 days after a settlement conference to amend its complaint.
   • However, Silva expressed doubt that Evolution can overcome the legal issue.

Judge Sides With Light & Wonder, Dismissing Evolution’s Patent Lawsuit

The legal battle between Evolution and Light & Wonder over RouletteX has ended—for now. On February 11, 2025, U.S. District Judge Cristina D. Silva dismissed Evolution’s patent infringement lawsuit, ruling that its patents on Lightning Roulette were too abstract to be protected.

The court determined that Evolution’s three patents—covering features like random number multipliers and animated effects—did not meet the legal standard for patent eligibility. The decision is a major win for Light & Wonder, which had been accused of copying Evolution’s popular Lightning Roulette game.

Why Did Evolution Sue Light & Wonder?

The dispute began when Light & Wonder launched RouletteX, a casino game with striking similarities to Evolution’s Lightning Roulette.

According to court documents, Evolution alleged:

• RouletteX randomly selected up to five roulette numbers, just like Lightning Roulette.
• The game applied multipliers between 50x and 500x, similar to Evolution’s feature.
• Light & Wonder used animated lightning effects to highlight multipliers, mirroring Evolution’s design.

Evolution argued that RouletteX was a direct copy and accused Light & Wonder of misusing confidential information from past partnership negotiations.

Judge Silva’s Ruling: Abstract Ideas Aren’t Patentable

Despite Evolution’s claims, Judge Silva ruled that the company’s patents:

1. Described an abstract idea rather than a true technological innovation.
2. Failed to detail any unique method or technology that differentiated them from traditional roulette.
3. Did not meet the U.S. Supreme Court’s Alice test, which prevents overly broad patents on generic concepts.

The judge stated:

“Based on my analysis of representative Claim 1 of the ‘014 patent, I conclude that the ‘014, ‘024, and ‘371 patents are invalid under Alice. Therefore, L&W’s motion to dismiss must be granted.”

In simple terms, the court found that randomly applying multipliers in a roulette game was a gaming concept, not a patentable technological breakthrough.

What Happens Next?

Although Judge Silva dismissed the case, she allowed Evolution to amend its complaint. However, she expressed doubt that Evolution could fix the legal issues in its argument.

The next steps are:

• A settlement conference with a magistrate judge to determine if an out-of-court agreement is possible.
• If Evolution wishes to continue the lawsuit, it has 14 days after the settlement conference to submit a revised complaint.
• If Evolution cannot present a stronger legal argument, the case will likely be permanently dismissed.

Industry Implications: What This Ruling Means for Gambling Patents

This case highlights an important legal precedent in the casino gaming industry. The ruling suggests that:

1. Basic game mechanics, like multipliers and bonus features, may not be patentable.
2. Casino game developers must demonstrate true technological innovation to secure patents.
3. Future lawsuits over game design may face stricter legal scrutiny.

The decision also gives Light & Wonder and other gaming developers more confidence to experiment with innovative game formats without the fear of broad patent claims.

A Setback for Evolution, a Victory for Game Developers?

The dismissal of Evolution’s lawsuit against Light & Wonder is a significant legal win for the casino gaming industry. The ruling reinforces that broadly defined game mechanics may not be protected under patent law, encouraging more competition and innovation in the sector.

While Evolution has the option to appeal, its chances of overturning the ruling appear slim. Meanwhile, Light & Wonder can continue offering RouletteX without the threat of further legal action—at least for now.

The case raises a larger question: Will patent disputes over casino game mechanics become more difficult to win? With this ruling, the bar for patent eligibility in the gambling industry may have just been raised.