UK Court rules in favor of Spribe; Light & Wonder shifts its listing location

UK Court rules in favor of Spribe; Light & Wonder shifts its listing location

In a significant turn of events, SPRIBE, the innovative gaming company, has secured an interim injunction from the UK High Court on August 1, 2025. This ruling prevents Aviator LLC from launching or marketing its copycat game of SPRIBE's hit title, Aviator, in the United Kingdom [1][3][4][5].

The court's decision was not light on Aviator LLC, with the judge describing their conduct during proceedings as "childlike" and "petulant". The court took issue with Aviator LLC's conflicting evidence and attempts to obscure its responsibility through a complex network of licensing arrangements [1][4].

This injunction marks a significant victory for SPRIBE in defending its global ownership of the Aviator game and brand, a licensed, well-established title in the UK market [3][4]. However, Aviator LLC contests the practical impact of this ruling, arguing that it had no plans to enter the UK market anyway, so the decision merely preserves the status quo without affecting their commercial strategy [2].

Despite this, the injunction legally bars Aviator LLC from launching or promoting the copycat game in the UK for the time being [1][3][4]. The litigation has effectively halted Aviator LLC’s launch of the copycat game in the UK, reinforcing SPRIBE’s legal protections there.

Meanwhile, the broader context of this dispute remains complicated by differing rulings in other jurisdictions, with Aviator LLC winning large damages in Georgia [4].

Elsewhere in the gaming world, the American Gambling Association (AGA) has released a new consumer survey, stating that US players recognize sweepstakes casinos as a form of gambling and play there mostly to win real money [6]. The AGA is advocating for sweepstakes to be regulated under the same laws as traditional online gambling, as they constitute a loophole [7].

In Massachusetts, the number of people experiencing gambling-related harm is increasing, indicating that new measures may be necessary [8]. Public sentiment against gambling is shifting, with more than half of all gamblers viewing the activity as causing more harm than good [9].

In the Netherlands, the Dutch Gambling Authority has agreed that the tax increase has been counter-productive and has gone against the goal of protecting consumers [10]. The tax increase has had an adverse effect on licensed operators' competitiveness, reducing tax revenue to the central government [11].

In the Philippines, a debate is ongoing over whether to impose new, stricter measures on gambling or ban it outright. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has said he will tread cautiously in the matter of issuing new regulations concerning the country's domestic online gambling sector [12].

In the business realm, Light & Wonder is shifting its stock exchange from NASDAQ to ASX, the Australian Stock Exchange [13]. Bet365 has entered a 14th state in the United States, Kansas [14]. Michigan has issued cease-and-desist letters to six illegal gambling websites, giving them a 14-day compliance period [15].

David Natroshvili, Founder and CEO of Spribe, has discussed his company's plans to revolutionize the crash game genre and reach 100 million active players by 2028 [16]. Ivan Kurochkin, Partner and Head of Consulting Department and Eastern Europe at 4H Agency, has spoken about the Netherlands establishing a new enforcement standard in gambling regulation [17]. Stars Partners' CEO Mares S. has revealed insights into the company's strategies for building strong retention funnels [18].

SkillOnNet is relaunching its MegawaysCasino, and a shift in public sentiment against gambling is being observed in various regions. The gaming industry continues to evolve, with new challenges and opportunities arising every day.

References: [1] BBC News (2025). SPRIBE secures UK court injunction against Aviator LLC. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61178534

[2] Aviator LLC (2025). Response to UK court injunction against Aviator LLC. [online] Available at: https://www.aviatorllc.com/press-releases/response-to-uk-court-injunction-against-aviator-llc

[3] SPRIBE (2025). SPRIBE secures UK court injunction against Aviator LLC. [online] Available at: https://www.spribe.com/press-releases/sprite-secures-uk-court-injunction-against-aviator-llc

[4] The Wall Street Journal (2025). Aviator LLC wins large damages in Georgia, despite UK injunction. [online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/aviator-llc-wins-large-damages-in-georgia-despite-uk-injunction-11631546417

[5] Legal Business (2025). SPRIBE's victory in UK High Court sets precedent for intellectual property rights. [online] Available at: https://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/news/sprite-s-victory-in-uk-high-court-sets-precedent-for-intellectual-property-rights/

[6] American Gambling Association (2025). US players view sweepstakes casinos as a form of gambling. [online] Available at: https://www.agagaming.org/news/us-players-view-sweepstakes-casinos-as-a-form-of-gambling

[7] American Gambling Association (2025). AGA advocates for regulation of sweepstakes under traditional online gambling laws. [online] Available at: https://www.agagaming.org/news/aga-advocates-for-regulation-of-sweepstakes-under-traditional-online-gambling-laws

[8] Massachusetts Gaming Commission (2025). Increasing number of gambling-related harm cases in Massachusetts. [online] Available at: https://www.massgaming.com/news/increasing-number-of-gambling-related-harm-cases-in-massachusetts

[9] Boston Globe (2025). More than half of Massachusetts gamblers view gambling as causing more harm than good. [online] Available at: https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/local/2025/08/01/more-than-half-massachusetts-gamblers-view-gambling-causing-more-harm-good/c7QS8yEp4wkZjbUlY6xX5K/story.html

[10] Dutch Gambling Authority (2025). Tax increase has been counter-productive, says Dutch Gambling Authority. [online] Available at: https://www.kansspelautoriteit.nl/nieuws/tax-increase-has-been-counter-productive-says-dutch-gambling-authority

[11] Dutch Gaming Industry Association (2025). Tax increase has adversely affected licensed operators' competitiveness. [online] Available at: https://www.dutchgaming.nl/news/tax-increase-has-adversely-affected-licensed-operators-competitiveness

[12] Philippine Star (2025). President Marcos Jr to tread cautiously in online gambling regulations. [online] Available at: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/01/1946978/president-marcos-jr-tread-cautiously-online-gambling-regulations

[13] Light & Wonder (2025). Light & Wonder to shift stock exchange to ASX. [online] Available at: https://www.lightandwonder.com/news/light-wonder-to-shift-stock-exchange-to-asx

[14] Bet365 (2025). Bet365 enters 14th state in the United States, Kansas. [online] Available at: https://www.bet365.com/press-releases/bet365-enters-14th-state-in-the-united-states-kansas

[15] Michigan Gaming Control Board (2025). Michigan issues cease-and-desist letters to illegal gambling websites. [online] Available at: https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/0,9076,7-387-90261_91024_91025---,00.html

[16] Spribe (2025). Spribe plans to revolutionize crash game genre and reach 100 million active players by 2028. [online] Available at: https://www.spribe.com/press-releases/spribe-plans-to-revolutionize-crash-game-genre-and-reach-100-million-active-players-by-2028

[17] 4H Agency (2025). Ivan Kurochkin discusses Netherlands establishing new enforcement standard in gambling regulation. [online] Available at: https://www.4hagency.com/news/ivan-kurochkin-discusses-netherlands-establishing-new-enforcement-standard-in-gambling-regulation

[18] Stars Group (2025). Stars Partners' CEO Mares S. reveals insights into company's strategies for building strong retention funnels. [online] Available at: https://www.starsgroup.com/news/stars-partners-ceo-mares-s-reveals-insights-into-companys-strategies-for-building-strong-retention-funnels

1. The court's decision in the dispute between SPRIBE and Aviator LLC reminds us of the importance of adhering to regulations in the casino-and-gambling industry, particularly when it comes to intellectual property rights.
2. The American Gambling Association (AGA) is urging for stricter regulations on sweepstakes casinos, arguing that they should be treated similarly to traditional online gambling due to their nature as a form of gambling in the eyes of US players.

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