Light & Wonder ordered to hand over math models in trade secrets dispute with Aristocrat

• Nevada court requires Light & Wonder to disclose math models for hold-and-spin games since 2021.
• Dispute involves alleged use of Aristocrat’s proprietary game math in Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon slots.
• Discovery phase set to end December 2025, with trial preparations ongoing for 2026.

A Nevada federal court has ruled that Light & Wonder must provide mathematical models for certain slot games as part of a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Aristocrat. This follows an earlier June 2025 decision that denied access to these models.

The case focuses on claims that Light & Wonder used Aristocrat’s proprietary math algorithms in hold-and-spin games launched after 2021.

Trial background

Aristocrat filed suit alleging that Light & Wonder misappropriated trade secrets related to the design and math of popular slot machines, including the Dragon Link and Lightning Link franchises.

Central to the case is the departure of game designer Emma Charles from Aristocrat to Light & Wonder in 2021, where she contributed to the Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon slots.

Aristocrat claims Charles took confidential payout structures and probabilities, which were used to replicate proprietary math in Light & Wonder’s games. After an earlier ruling denied discovery access to Aristocrat, the court has now broadened the scope to include internal math models for hold-and-spin games developed since 2021.

Court ruling and statements

On October 17, 2025, the District Court in Nevada granted Aristocrat’s renewed motion to obtain Light & Wonder’s internal mathematical frameworks for the hold-and-spin game series. This includes titles such as Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon.

Light & Wonder commented with a short statement:

“The Nevada Court heard argument today and granted Aristocrat’s renewed motion to obtain discovery of math models for certain Light & Wonder hold and spin games released since 2021, when Emma Charles joined the company.

“The Court previously denied a similar motion. While we are disappointed with the Court’s ruling, we remain confident, based on the expert review we previously disclosed, that there is no evidence of Aristocrat math being used in any commercially released games other than Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon.”

The company confirmed it had voluntarily withdrawn these two games from the US market following earlier rulings.

Legal timeline and implications

The court set discovery to close by December 15, 2025, with expert testimony due by March 16, 2026, ahead of a likely 2026 trial. This case highlights the role of intellectual property protection in the slot gaming sector’s competitive environment.

The ruling may influence operator and investor confidence in the industry’s ability to enforce and protect proprietary game designs. It also illustrates the court’s preference for transparency in trade secret disputes over corporate secrecy, signalling a precedent for future iGaming intellectual property cases.

This litigation demonstrates the challenges companies face in safeguarding innovation while navigating complex IP issues in a rapidly evolving market.​