Dragon Train Games Still Operate Amidst Aristocrat’s Legal Battle

Did you know that Dragon Train games are still operational despite a court-ordered injunction? Aristocrat is attempting to enforce its legal win, but Light & Wonder is pushing back, keeping the games available at major casinos. Curious about the latest twist in this high-stakes legal battle? Read on to uncover how this dispute could reshape the gaming industry’s future!

Dragon Train Games Remain Active as Aristocrat Pushes for Court-Enforced Injunction

Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train games remain accessible to players, defying attempts by Aristocrat to enforce a recent injunction. The ongoing legal dispute intensifies as both companies navigate through complex legal and operational challenges.

Current Status of Dragon Train Games

Despite the injunction, Dragon Train Chi Lin Wins continues to operate online at major platforms like BetMGM Casino in New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia, as confirmed by Gamingo.News. Furthermore, the land-based versions of the game are still active on casino floors across the United States. This was acknowledged by Aristocrat in a recent legal filing.

This situation persists even after Judge Gloria Navarro from the Nevada District ordered Light & Wonder to cease profiting from both the online and land-based versions of the game on September 23. Aristocrat is now pushing back, seeking court intervention to enforce the injunction.

An Aristocrat attorney emphasized the company’s frustration, stating, “Although the terms of the injunction are clear, L&W has signaled that it may not remove, replace, or turn off existing Dragon Train games absent further order of the Court.”

Aristocrat’s Enforcement Efforts

In response to Light & Wonder’s non-compliance, Aristocrat filed a motion with the Nevada District Court, aiming to secure a court order to enforce the preliminary injunction. The Australian slots giant argues that the court should impose a $25,000 per day penalty for every day that Light & Wonder fails to comply with the order. Aristocrat is firm in its stance, aiming to halt Light & Wonder’s operations related to Dragon Train games, which Aristocrat alleges infringe on its Dragon Link intellectual property.

Light & Wonder Seeks Court Clarification

On the other side, Light & Wonder has sought clarification from the court, citing ambiguity in the injunction’s scope. The company contends that the wording of the injunction could be interpreted to only apply to future leases or sales, rather than existing leased games. Light & Wonder has therefore requested that the court explicitly outline whether the injunction applies to current installations. Additionally, if the order does indeed apply to existing games, Light & Wonder is asking the court to provide a timeline for compliance.

The company highlights the logistical challenges involved in removing or replacing the games. Light & Wonder argues that compliance will require cooperation from casino operators, notifications to gaming regulators, and the coordination of personnel to physically travel to each location where the Dragon Train games are installed. Given the number of units distributed across the U.S., this process will demand substantial time and resources.

The Legal Battle: A Complex Dispute Over Intellectual Property

The struggle over the Dragon Train games is the latest development in an ongoing case where Aristocrat accuses Light & Wonder of trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement related to Aristocrat’s popular Dragon Link series. The lawsuit centers on allegations that Light & Wonder hired former Aristocrat employees, leveraging their inside knowledge to replicate the underlying mathematics, functionality, and visual elements of Aristocrat’s games.

After months of litigation, Aristocrat successfully obtained a preliminary injunction, a significant legal win that contributed to a sharp decline in Light & Wonder’s share price on both the Nasdaq and the ASX, where the company is dual-listed. Despite the injunction, Light & Wonder issued a statement indicating that it would make no changes to its forecasted $1.4 billion FY2025 Adjusted EBITDA. Nonetheless, analysts at Macquarie opted to lower their target price for the company’s stock by 4% to $114 per share in light of the ongoing dispute.

The legal battle between Aristocrat and Light & Wonder over the Dragon Train games continues to unfold, highlighting the complexities of enforcing intellectual property rights in the fast-paced gaming industry. While Aristocrat aggressively seeks court enforcement and financial penalties, Light & Wonder is pushing back, citing the logistical difficulties of compliance and requesting further clarification from the court. As this high-stakes dispute develops, its outcome could have significant ramifications for the gaming sector, especially in how companies approach copyright and trade secret protections in both online and land-based markets. For now, Dragon Train games remain accessible, keeping players engaged while the industry watches closely for the next move.