VGW owner and CEO Laurence Escalante has been removed from his position at the online casino operator in the wake of his arrest on assault, theft, and drug charges.
Police arrested Escalante on Thursday following reports that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend at her home in Perth on Monday last week. He then appeared in court on Friday, facing eight charges.
His 24-year-old ex-girlfriend told police she fell asleep on Monday night, but woke to angry messages from Escalante. He then arrived at her home and forced his way into her bedroom before allegedly striking her “in the face with a closed fist.”
She said she fell to the ground before claiming Escalante locked himself in a bedroom and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelery, including a Cartier watch and bracelet.
After she contacted police, they went to his house and found 30 grams of cocaine, 18 grams of methamphetamine, and 12.2 grams of ketamine, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. He now faces charges of intent to supply, in addition to assault, family violence, destruction of property, stealing, and aggravated home burglary.
In court, his lawyers argued for the publication of the charges to be suppressed because of a threat to his safety. Escalante claims he is the target of kidnapping and extortion plans by organized crime gangs because of his wealth. The request was denied.
Escalante In ‘Shock’ & VGW Makes Plans Without Him
In a brief statement, Escalante said, “My arrest on these matters has come as a shock to myself and my family.”
“From the little I know of the allegations at this stage, I can only say that they are untrue and will be defended. I ask that both mine and my family’s privacy be respected, and thank them for their support.”
On Friday evening, VGW released a statement saying, “We are aware of the serious charges made against Mr Escalante. These are unrelated to VGW and personal in nature. However, we can confirm Mr Escalante will be taking a leave of absence from his role as CEO and Executive Chairman of VGW. In the interim, we have installed experienced leadership from our existing executive team to take on those responsibilities and it remains business as usual for VGW.
“The company takes any allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this is a private matter and remains before the courts, we cannot comment further.”
Escalante has had a turbulent relationship with the company’s investors and agreed to a deal to buy out minority shareholders last year.
Ex Claims Multiple Incidents of Abuse
His ex-girlfriend is accusing him of several incidents of abuse during their 12-month relationship. She claims he punched her in the face in a car in Paris, and she had to seek medical help.
She also says she suffered abusive behavior on trips to Mykonos, Singapore, and Bali. On one occasion, she claims he “became furious” before punching and kicking her repeatedly in the lower body and legs.
Since splitting with his wife, with whom he has four children, Escalante has had a series of high-profile relationships, including several models. The 44-year-old has an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion and is ranked among Australia’s richest men.
VGW Growing Despite Legal Challenges
Despite more states clamping down on sweepstakes casinos, VGW has grown substantially in recent years. The company generated around $5 billion last year, up from $4 billion in 2024 and $3 billion in 2023.
The company’s flagship brands, Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, and Global Poker, have been forced out of several states. Six states explicitly banned sweepstakes casinos last year. That trend has continued in the new legislative session with at least 10 states introducing bills targeting the gray market industry.
In response, VGW has launched new platforms. LuckyLand Casino went live last month, and United Slots is set to launch this quarter. Escalante may be forced to take a step back from overseeing the company’s strategy.
The billionaire was granted bail, set at AU$100,000 ($70,000). As part of the conditions of his release, he must report to the police three times a week.
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VGW owner and CEO Laurence Escalante has been removed from his position at the online casino operator in the wake of his arrest on assault, theft, and drug charges. Police arrested Escalante on Thursday following reports that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend at her home in Perth on Monday last week. He then appeared in court
The post Laurence Escalante Removed as VGW CEO After Arrest on Assault, Theft & Drug Charges in Australia appeared first on CasinoBeats.