A Nevada district court has ordered Evolution to take its trade secret claims against Light & Wonder to arbitration, while allowing separate patent infringement claims to move forward in court. The ruling stems from a 2021 licensing agreement that granted Light & Wonder exclusive rights to develop a physical version of Evolution’s Lightning Roulette for land-based casinos.
Judge Cristina Silva determined that Evolution’s trade secret allegations fell within the scope of the arbitration clause in the licensing contract. The clause stipulated that unresolved disputes would be settled under the International Chamber of Commerce’s arbitration rules, with London as the designated seat.
Evolution had opposed arbitration, arguing that the agreement contained a carve-out for intellectual property disputes. However, the court rejected this interpretation, noting that the clause simply dictated which laws would govern IP matters, not where they should be resolved.
The arbitration will address Evolution’s claims that Light & Wonder misappropriated confidential mathematical data and trade secrets to create competing games, including RouletteX, PowerX, and 88 Fortunes Blaze Live Roulette. Meanwhile, the court retained jurisdiction over the patent infringement claims, scheduling a status conference for October 30 to determine next steps.
This case underscores the growing legal complexity surrounding IP ownership, licensing rights, and innovation control within the iGaming industry. As companies increasingly collaborate and license technologies, clear contractual terms and the arbitration mechanisms they contain play a decisive role in shaping dispute outcomes.
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