A Nevada District Court has ruled slot maker Light & Wonder should cease operating its Dragon Train slot game at casinos in the state, including in Las Vegas.
The judgment is the result of a lawsuit from rival slot maker Aristocrat Gaming, who developed the similar Dragon Link jackpot slot game. Aristocrat alleges that Light & Wonder not only copied core elements of its game, but also deliberately hired engineers who formerly worked on Dragon Link before developing Dragon Train.
The slot could soon be removed from casino floors in the Silver State if Light & Wonder fails in its appeal of the judgment.
“Light & Wonder today received an order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada granting Aristocrat a preliminary injunction relating to L&W’s Dragon Train game. We respectfully disagree with the judge’s decision and will promptly file an appeal,” said the company in a statement after the decision.
“We will continue to vigorously defend against Aristocrat’s claims, including presenting our defenses to a jury at a trial.”
The Lawsuit
Aristocrat first filed a lawsuit against Light & Wonder in March 2024. It says that Dragon Train copied Dragon Link in audio-visual elements, game mechanics, gameplay, and in its branding.
The lawsuit also claims deceptive trade practicies. It says Light & Wonder hired two former senior Aristrocrat game designers who previously worked on the Dragon Link series, and they ended up heading the development of Dragon Train.
“We are extremely pleased with the court’s decision,” said Aristocrat’s Chief Product Officer, Matthew Primmer.
“This ruling underscores the value of our intellectual property and reaffirms our commitment to protecting the integrity of our business. We will continue to innovate and invest in cutting-edge solutions, knowing that the law protects our creative efforts.”
Light & Wonder’s share price dropped some 20% on the Australian stock exchange after the announcement of the court’s ruling. It says it is already working on a new version of Dragon Train, but it is also appealing the decision.
A Tale of Two Slots
Aristocrat’s Dragon Link slot debuted in American casinos in 2017, and has been a popular option among gamblers ever since. This year, it was the game of choice for many jackpot winners, including one player who won millions over several consecutive nights playing the game for high stakes at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.
Australian-based Aristocrat is a key supplier of Nevada casinos, and recently opened a large manufacturing facility in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson. Among its other games are the only official licensed NFL slot machines.
Light & Wonder is headquartered in Las Vegas, but its history is also rooted in Australia. It first opened as Autotote, a horse race betting firm, in 1917. It opened in New York in 1953, and in 2001, it became Scientific Games. In turn, it became Light & Wonder in 2022.
After a successful test run in various smaller markets, Light & Wonder released Dragon Train in 2024 to North American casinos, including Nevada.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
