Court Rejects Aristocrat’s Bid to Access Information on Player Gambling Addiction

July 9, 2025
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Aristocrat’s Request Denied by Federal Court in Melbourne

The Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne has denied Aristocrat’s attempt to gain access to personal information regarding plaintiffs involved in a class-action lawsuit. This lawsuit includes claims against Aristocrat and its subsidiaries, Product Madness and Big Fish Games.

Protecting Plaintiff Privacy in Social Casino Litigation

Aristocrat aimed to obtain details about the gambling behaviors of the plaintiffs, particularly whether they suffer from gambling addiction. However, the court rejected this request, emphasizing that players cannot accurately diagnose their own addiction.

The plaintiffs’ legal team persuaded the court that compelling individuals to self-assess their addiction status could pose significant risks. It could negatively influence other legal cases and weaken credible future claims by suggesting that plaintiffs may have gambling disorders. The court found this argument compelling and sided with the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit concerns plaintiffs who spent real money on Aristocrat’s social casino apps, which mimic the experience of real online gambling. These actions reportedly violate applicable legal regulations.

Aristocrat argued that information about potential addiction was relevant to the case’s outcome. While the court allowed some consideration of this data, it ruled that investigating the plaintiffs’ mental health or medical conditions prior to reaching mediation was premature and could unfairly prejudice the case.

Legal Precedents from Similar Cases

The plaintiffs indicated they made real-money purchases on games such as Big Fish Casino, Epic Diamond Slots, and Heart of Vegas between December 22, 2017, and December 12, 2024.

Comparable lawsuits have been filed internationally, particularly in the United States. For instance, Aristocrat and Churchill Downs agreed to settlements totaling $155 million in cases involving Big Fish.

Aristocrat has recently faced another legal defeat when a court rejected its demand for evidence in an unrelated case involving Light & Wonder at the end of June.