Key Points:
- A US court granted Aristocrat Technologies a preliminary injunction on Dragon Train
- Light & Wonder plans to replace existing Dragon Train units with other titles from its portfolio
- The company remains on track to achieve its 2025 earnings target despite the litigation
Light & Wonder has addressed the recent legal decision concerning its slot game Dragon Train, following a court ruling in favour of Aristocrat Technologies.
Aristocrat, industry giant and a competitor in the gaming technology sector, alleged that Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train game infringed on its intellectual property, specifically certain mathematical aspects of the game.
In late September, a US court issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting Light & Wonder from distributing the game.
In response, Light & Wonder has released a video statement from its President and CEO, Matt Wilson, outlining the company’s plans to comply with the court order while continuing to support its customers.
Wilson explained that while some mathematical components of Dragon Train were the focus of the court’s decision, many key features of the game remain unaffected, including its distinctive hold-and-respin mechanism.
He stated that Light & Wonder plans to develop a new version of Dragon Train that aligns with the court’s ruling, ensuring continued availability in the company’s portfolio.
Currently, around 2,000 units of Dragon Train are in operation across North America. Wilson confirmed that the company is working closely with its customers to replace these units with other titles from Light & Wonder’s extensive library, such as Ultimate Fire Link and Huff and Puff.
According to Wilson, there have been no customer requests to remove the game immediately.
In Australia, sales of Dragon Train were halted following the court’s decision and Light & Wonder has begun offering alternative games to its Australian clients.
Good to know: Wilson himself used to work for Aristocrat, before moving to Light & Wonder
Despite the legal situation, Wilson reaffirmed that the company remains on track to meet its 2025 earnings target of $1.4bn EBITDA.
Additionally, Wilson confirmed that the designer of Dragon Train has left Light & Wonder. Though specific details were not disclosed, the company indicated that this personnel change was part of its efforts to address the ongoing litigation.
Looking ahead, Light & Wonder is preparing for the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, where it will showcase its latest game titles.
In other news, Light & Wonder expanded its game distribution network through a partnership with Peter & Sons, aiming to further strengthen its presence in regulated markets worldwide.
