Aristocrat Secures Key Discovery Ruling in Its Legal Fight Against Light & Wonder

Aristocrat has scored a substantial procedural triumph after a Nevada court gave the Australian slot developer the right to access critical evidence in its trial against rival gaming technology company Light & Wonder (L&W). The court’s decision permits Aristocrat to obtain discovery of the math models underpinning several titles that L&W has released since 2021 and that stand at the center of the ongoing lawsuit.

Aristocrat Seeks Further Clarity

The most recent ruling of the US District Court for the District of Nevada reverses a prior decision that blocked Aristocrat from accessing the math models. The court previously ruled that the company had not clearly defined which trade secrets it sought to protect. However, Aristocrat’s latest motion appears to have satisfied these demands for a closer examination of L&W’s game mathematics, a crucial aspect of any slot machine’s unique design.

The legal battle revolves around Aristocrat’s claims that Light & Wonder, formerly known as Scientific Games, misappropriated proprietary algorithms and design principles used in its popular “Dragon Link” and “Lightning Link” series. Aristocrat claims this breach began after game designer Emma Charles, who previously worked at Aristocrat, moved to Light & Wonder in 2021. 

According to Aristocrat, L&W’s “Dragon Train” game family, developed during the period after Charles’ transfer, bears suspicious similarities to its own hit titles. Aristocrat has also highlighted what it calls “incomplete disclosures” from its rival, which include missing accounting information concerning the Dragon Train project. The firm maintains that these gaps hinder its ability to determine whether its technology may have been used or replicated. 

A Final Resolution Remains a Distant Prospect

L&W remains adamant that its game development process is independent, and that Aristocrat’s push for extended discovery marks a clear overreach. In a recent statement, L&W acknowledged the court’s decision. However, the company was disappointed with the ruling, remaining confident that none of its titles other than Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon used Aristocrat math.

Based on the expert review we previously disclosed, there is no evidence of Aristocrat math being used in any commercially released games other than Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon.

Light & Wonder statement

Despite L&W’s assertions, the case continues to grow in scope. Aristocrat recently alleged that another L&W game from a different studio, unrelated to Dragon Train, also infringed upon trade secrets. The updated discovery process should prove instrumental in determining whether this is the case, marking a turning point in this increasingly contentious legal showdown.

While the ruling marks significant progress, no definitive resolution is in sight. Fact discovery for the case is scheduled to run through December 15, 2025, with expert discovery closing in March 2026. This timeline guarantees that, barring a sudden settlement, the legal battle will drag on well into the future.