One of Light & Wonder’s subsidiaries is currently facing a legal battle over alleged breaches of a distribution agreement with a game developer. In an unexpected turn of events, the plaintiff, The Talisman Group, LLC, represented by the Las Vegas-based boutique law firm, Bailey Kennedy, LLP, gained legal ground in its lawsuit against LNW Gaming, a subsidiary of Light & Wonder.
Light & Wonder Subsidiary Breached Active Agreement with Talisman
On Thursday, a Nevada judge ruled partially in favor of Talisman, recognizing that LNW violated an existing distribution agreement it had with the company for a popular baccarat game. The agreement in question was in effect until September 8, 2023. Under that contract, LNW leased EZ Baccarat from Talisman and offered it to British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the only legal gambling operator in British Columbia, Canada.
However, Talisman claimed that while the contract was still active, LNW marketed a competing no-commission baccarat game called Ruyi Baccarat. The plaintiff alleged that Light & Wonder’s subsidiary also accepted preorders for the lease of Ruyi Baccarat, despite LNW’s active contract with Talisman which was set to expire in the beginning of September 2023.
On Thursday, the Honorable Joanna S. Kishner with the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County ruled that based on the presented evidence, LNW violated the Strategic Alliance Agreement it had signed with Talisman. The violation of the agreement was because of “marketing Ruyi Baccarat (a competing product) and taking ‘preorders’ from casinos to lease Ruyi Baccarat … while LNW was still under contract with Talisman,” the judge ruled.
Talisman Group’s Defense, Pleased with the Outcome
Talisman’s case was presented by Bailey Kennedy partner Joshua P. Gilmore and associate Tayler D. Bingham. “Talisman is a two-person gaming company going up against one of the largest gaming companies in the world,” the former said. Moreover, Gilmore pointed out: “We are extremely pleased that the court has ruled in our client’s favor on this important issue.”
The legal battle between Talisman and Light & Wonder’s subsidiary is set to continue in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There, the parties need to secure Canadian counsel to assist in depositing BCLC officials.
