Gambling companies depend on trademarks and logos to differentiate themselves from the competition, whether it be brick-and-mortar or digital. But maintaining those trademarks and symbols can be a costly pain.
BetMGM and Jackpocket are facing possible infringements on their trademarks, according to PlayUSA.
Jackpocket, which is an online lottery service, filed a lawsuit against nascent competitor Jackpot in July accusing the upstart of relying on the good graces of the Jackpocket brand to help its business.
Last week, BetMGM responded to Red Dog, which marketed under the name MGMBet. BetMGM is considering its options. The gaming giant might not end up doing anything, because defending such situations costs a ton of money and may not succeed.
In 2015, Caesars operated what is now Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati and wanted to trademark the name The Shoe for the entertainment component.
Ohio State University in Columbus objected, saying its stadium is known by that name and they don’t want it associated with gambling.
A 2019 dispute between an operator of an off-track betting site and a Florida city reveals that infringement cases aren’t cut-and-dry. The South Florida Reporter shared details about how Magic City Casino, owned by West Flagler Associates (the same group that filed the lawsuit blocking legal sports betting in Florida), alleged that the Magic City Innovation District had violated its trademarks in a lawsuit.
The Magic City Innovation District is a development project in Miami’s Little Haiti area. It currently contains commercial and residential buildings. Magic City Casino’s complaint argued that the district’s name prompted confusion, causing people to believe the casino was associated with the district.
The casino also charged that the development does not have a good reputation among locals, and that sentiment could hurt the casino’s reputation. In the end the two sides reached a settlement in May 2020.
One of the issues plaguing this situation comes from the reference Magic City. Paul S. George of HistoryMiami Museum says the term has been associated with Miami since before the turn of the 20th century.
