In a landmark victory, Everi Holdings’ Payment Unit, Everi Payments, defeated Sightline Payments Patents in a long-standing patent dispute. Everi, a Las Vegas staple, emerged victorious in five inter partes review proceedings conducted by the Patent Trial and Appeals Board under the aegis of the US Patent and Trademark Office. This legal battle‘s origin dates back to September 2021, ignited by Sightline’s lawsuit alleging that Everi’s CashClub Wallet had violated at least five of its patents.
This initial lawsuit was cast aside in June 2022. However, Everi sought a review of the patent violation claims, challenging Sightline’s accusations. As of August 30, following a sequence of determinations, the Patent Trial and Appeals Board ruled Sightline’s claims against Everi as unpatentable. Everi, explained that a patent becomes unpatentable if the subject matter’s distinctness from existing knowledge would have been evidently identifiable to a regular individual skilled in the respective field, at the time of the invention.
Everi’s CashClub Wallet, a cashless gaming option, offers both gamblers and operators a way to minimize the use of cash in gaming establishments, pivoting towards an increasingly digital financial environment in the gaming industry.
While Sightline may appeal, the USPTO’s decision is a positive development for Everi as it eliminates a potential threat. The company, primarily focused on their fintech offerings, sees the switch to cashless gaming in casinos at a national level, a change accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as an untapped opportunity for growth.
Everi expressed satisfaction after the PTAB’s decision favored them asserting the inherent uncertainties in litigation and a potential further appeal. Everi’s Chief Legal Officer, Kate Lowenhar-Fisher, shared these sentiments.
Everi’s digital wallet, CashClub, has seen a rapid uptake with more than 20 gaming establishments across at least six states, up from a few at the end of 2021.
While Sightline may secure some legal wins down the line, the recent USPTO resolutions hint that the two companies may have to grapple with competitive coexistence. Sightline, also based in Las Vegas, offers payment services to gaming operators in the iGaming, land-based casino, and sports wagering sectors. Their client lineup includes industry giants like BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, and Caesars Sportsbook.
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