Abstract Since the qubit’s performance of solid-state spin centers depends highly on the host material, spin centers using new host materials may offer new qubit applications. We investigate the optical properties of Ce-implanted MgO and MgAl₂O₄ as potential materials holding the optically accessible qubit. We find that the photoluminescence of Ce-implanted MgAl₂O₄ is more than 10 times brighter than that of Ce-implanted MgO and observe polarization-dependent emission of Ce center in MgAl₂O₄ with 2% at 4 K under 500 mT, suggesting that the properties required for initializing and reading the state of the spin qubit have been achieved.