
Noted table games provider, MAO Gaming, has initiated legal proceedings against Penn Entertainment’s Ameristar Casino located in Black Hawk, Colorado. The contention is that the casino has violated trademarks related to MAO’s distinguished STREAK blackjack game.
Since December 1st, 2001, the Mississippi-established MAO has been the predominant rights holder of the STREAK variation of blackjack, protected by patent. To elucidate, STREAK, allows participants to place a side bet on the number of times they will be dealt blackjack on standard blackjack tables. Deeply anchored in Las Vegas and regional casino tradition, blackjack is a crowd pleaser.
Amidst court proceedings in the US District Court for the District of Colorado, MAO’s legal counsel stipulated that Ameristar Black Hawk has solicited, championed, offered, and ultimately benefited from “the unauthorized and unlicensed use of MAO’s marks”.
The court document noted, “For nearly fifteen years of annual license renewals at Ameristar Casino Black Hawk, PENN deliberately and blatantly disregarded its contractual obligations. It infringed on the iconic STREAK® brand of MAO by promoting unlicensed STREAK® blackjack table games – one of the most successful casino table games ever formulated”.
It’s important to underline that the accusation asserts that the indiscretions continued for two years at the Black Hawk hotel-casino, despite Penn’s knowledge. MAO’s lawsuit emerges just a few weeks after a card counter from Georgia sued the establishment for unlawful detainment.
Clear stipulations in annual renewal contracts highlighted that STREAK was the “exclusive property” of MAO. Furthermore, the Colorado Casino Gaming Commission (CCGC) mandated that all gaming operators should be licensed by MAO if they desired to feature the blackjack side bets, with gameplay conducted following the exact rules set by the patent holder.
In MAO’s perspective, the contract and regulations evidence the deliberate and intentional nature of PENN’s actions. All STREAK® products were explicitly the exclusive property of MAO, with no right of usage unless a license was procured.
The stipulated regulations by the CCGC outline that STREAK can only be played on tables displaying the approved STREAK table layout, equipped with the distinctive markings specified by MAO Gaming.
The verdict alleges that it is “impossible” for Ameristar Black Hawk to not know that the rights to generate revenue from the STREAK rest solely upon procuring a license from MAO, owing to the concrete nature of their contracts.
Even though Black Hawk may be the smallest town in Colorado, it is a hub for the state’s largest gaming scene. Fastest-growing and ranked 10th largest in the US, the town hosts four public operators, including Bally’s, Caesars Entertainment, Monarch Casino & Resort, and Penn.
The exciting prospects of this thriving gaming scene extend far beyond traditional gaming houses. For those who find the casino scene alluring but prefer a more contemporary platform, we have a solution for you at the West Island Blog. On our website, you can discover a comprehensive list of the top online casinos for this month. These captivating online versions provide an equally thrilling and often more convenient gaming experience. Make sure to explore these exciting options today.