Australian court denies Aristocrat’s bid to halt Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train

February 11, 2025

Australian court denies Aristocrat’s bid to halt Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train

The Federal Court of Australia on Friday (7 February 2025) turned down Australian slot machine major Aristocrat Technology’s request seeking an interlocutory injunction against rival Light & Wonder Inc, concerning the latter’s “Dragon Train” product. This ruling comes as a major blow to Aristocrat which was granted a preliminary injunction by the United States District Court for the District of Nevada in September 2024. This judgement by the Australian court could produce serious ramifications for gaming majors and the Australian gambling industry.

Aristocrat’s allegations

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd accused Light & Wonder of intellectual property theft, claiming that Dragon Train bore too many similarities to its own Dragon Link series. The allegations included misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright infringement, copying game mechanics and gameplay elements, using copyrighted audiovisual assets, and deceptive trade practices.

Aristocrat also highlighted the significant presence of former Aristocrat executives in senior positions at Light & Wonder, particularly two former game designers involved in the development of Dragon Train.

Legal proceedings in Australia

Justice Stephen Burley of the Federal Court of Australia rejected Aristocrat’s request for an injunction on 7 February 2025. While his reasons remain under a non-disclosure order, the ruling ensures that Dragon Train machines can continue operating in Australia without interruption.

Around 10,000 Dragon Train machines are installed across Australia, and casino operators will not need to take any action against them. Light & Wonder’s NASDAQ-listed shares jumped 11 percent following the court decision, and its ASX-listed shares increased by 7.5 percent. The Australian litigation concerns have eased, and Light & Wonder can now turn its attention to its 2025 content pipeline.

In response to a media query, Aristocrat spokesperson told, “Aristocrat notes the court’s ruling and will review its reasons once published. Aristocrat welcomes the undertakings given by Light & Wonder and Ms Charles, subject to the court’s final determination, before the recent hearing in these proceedings.”

Comparison with the U.S. court ruling

The Australian court’s decision contrasts with a ruling in the United States. The U.S. ruling found it “extremely likely” that L&W had misappropriated Aristocrat’s trade secrets, leading to a temporary ban on Dragon Train sales and operations in the U.S.

In response to the Nevada ruling, Light & Wonder announced the development of a revised version, Dragon Train 2.0, designed to address intellectual property concerns.

SiGMA News has approached Light & Wonder seeking comments regarding the Australian court case, however queries haven’t been answered until the time of publication.

Impact on the Australian gaming industry

The Federal Court’s decision allows Australian casino operators to continue providing Dragon Train machines without any threat of litigation. This case reveals the intricacies of intellectual property disputes in the gaming industry. Unlike the approach taken by the U.S. court, Australia’s legal system did not see enough merit in the case to grant an injunction, indicating that there might be a different understanding of trade secret laws.

The ruling allows Dragon Train to continue operations, creating a competitive atmosphere in Australia’s gaming industry. Aristocrat and Light & Wonder will most probably continue innovating, which will lead to better products and more choices for consumers.