Existing and New Table Game IP Protection

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and am interested in learning more about IP protection for casino table games. The whole thing is a bit confusing to me.

I'm not an expert on Alice and Bilski, but based on what I've read it appears these two court decisions have made it very difficult or even possible to get a patent on a casino table game using a standard deck of cards.

If it is impossible to get a patent on a casino table game using a standard deck of playing cards, I'm wondering how relatively new games such as Criss Cross Poker received a patent?

I'm also wondering how games like Face Up Pai Gow Poker is protected. This new casino table game appears to be invented by an independent inventor, has not received a patent, but is licensed to Scientific Games for distribution. What is being licensed when there isn't a patent that protects the invention? Is there another type of protection?

I'd like to give inventing a new casino table game a try. I've purchased and read Dan Lubin's book on Amazon. It was extremely helpful and anyone interested or curious about casino table games should consider purchasing it. However, I still have the questions above.

Hoping someone here can help and thank you in advance.

Sonic3

Quote: Sonic3

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and am interested in learning more about IP protection for casino table games. The whole thing is a bit confusing to me.

I'm not an expert on Alice and Bilski, but based on what I've read it appears these two court decisions have made it very difficult or even possible to get a patent on a casino table game using a standard deck of cards.

If it is impossible to get a patent on a casino table game using a standard deck of playing cards, I'm wondering how relatively new games such as Criss Cross Poker received a patent?

I'm also wondering how games like Face Up Pai Gow Poker is protected. This new casino table game appears to be invented by an independent inventor, has not received a patent, but is licensed to Scientific Games for distribution. What is being licensed when there isn't a patent that protects the invention? Is there another type of protection?

I'd like to give inventing a new casino table game a try. I've purchased and read Dan Lubin's book on Amazon. It was extremely helpful and anyone interested or curious about casino table games should consider purchasing it. However, I still have the questions above.

Hoping someone here can help and thank you in advance.

Sonic3

Welcome to the forum. Many members here are table games inventors. Some do it 'on the side', while a few are doing it for a living. Hopefully one will answer your questions. But you can use the 'search' function on this site to look for many previous threads that are chock full of info on this topic.

Sonic3,

Welcome.

I would suggest you back-read the entire Game Inventors Corner subforum in as much detail as you like. The most useful material is in the 2012-2016 time frame, and sadly, not much has changed AFAIK in Alice and Bilski since then.