Pilot Games wins second U.S. patent for electronic pull-tab animation tech

Pilot Games says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a second patent for its electronic pull-tab platform, covering animated prize-reveal technology for regulated charitable gaming. The new protection builds on a 2025 watermark patent and could help the company adapt game presentation rules across jurisdictions.

Why it matters: - The new patent strengthens Pilot Games’ intellectual property position in electronic pull-tab gaming. - The technology is designed to give charitable gaming operators a consistent way to present prizes while adapting to different state and local disclosure rules. - Pilot Games says the framework can help deploy proven game concepts across multiple markets without redesigning core gameplay.

What happened: - The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 12,705,949 B2, titled “Standard Animated Roll-Up for Electronic Pull-Tab Gaming.” - Pilot Gaming Systems, Inc. announced the patent on August 24, 2026. - The company develops electronic pull-tab games and gaming technology for charitable gaming organizations in the U.S. and lottery markets internationally.

The details: - The patent covers an animated, staged prize-reveal experience inside an electronic pull-tab game. - When a player gets a winning ticket, the system can first show winning payline symbols without immediately disclosing the final prize amount. - The game then runs an animated “roll-up” before showing the payline symbols together with the actual prize awarded. - The patent also describes roll-up presentations based on player selections made before play. - Other implementations include Picture-in-Picture animation formats, extended roll-up sequences with simulated prize presentations, and watermarked symbols that can encode prize-related information without making that information readily identifiable to the player. - Pilot Games developed the technology for regulated charitable gaming markets.

Between the lines: - The patent signals continued investment in presentation-layer game design, not just core game mechanics. - The company is aiming at jurisdictions where prize-disclosure requirements vary, which makes flexible content presentation a practical advantage. - Jon Weaver, Founder and CEO of Pilot Games, framed the patent as recognition of the team’s technical work and as support for future product development. - Weaver said the company has focused on original technologies since 2014 and wants to keep investing in new game experiences.

What's next: - Pilot Games says the patent will support future technologies and game experiences. - The company expects intellectual property protection to help it continue investing in product development. - The patent adds to a growing portfolio that included U.S. Patent No. 12,367,737 for watermark technology, awarded in July 2025. - Pilot Games says the two patents represent consecutive years of new U.S. patent protection for its electronic pull-tab platform.

The bottom line: - Pilot Games is building a patent-backed toolkit for electronic pull-tab games that can adapt to different regulatory environments while keeping the player experience consistent and engaging. - More information: Pilot Games on LinkedIn