VGW CEO Escalante Steps Aside After Assault And Drug Charges

VGW confirmed a leadership change after criminal charges brought against founder and chief executive Laurence Escalante in Western Australia, triggering a temporary shift at the top of the online gaming company.

Good to Know

• VGW confirmed Laurence Escalante stepped aside from executive duties.
• Police allege assault, burglary, theft, and drug offenses in Perth.
• VGW said operations continue under existing executive leadership.

A court appearance in Perth on Thursday placed VGW founder Laurence Escalante at the center of a criminal case that now stretches beyond personal matters and into corporate governance. Authorities allege incidents involving an ex partner earlier in the week, followed by a police search that uncovered illegal substances.

Shortly after the court hearing, VGW confirmed that Escalante has taken a leave of absence from his roles as chief executive and executive chairman. The company said senior leaders from the existing executive group have assumed day to day responsibilities while legal proceedings continue.

Police allege Escalante assaulted his former partner, removed jewelry, and damaged property after entering her home without permission. The Australian Financial Review reported that officers later found a trafficable quantity of cocaine and MDMA during a search of his residence in Perth.

VGW addressed the situation publicly in a short statement issued Thursday:

“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 statement also read:

“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.”

Court records cited by the Financial Review show Escalante, age 44, faces eight charges. They include aggravated assault, aggravated home burglary, theft, criminal damage, and three counts of possessing prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply. Police also charged him with persistent family violence tied to a six month period ending January 2026 involving his former partner.

While the charges relate to alleged personal conduct, the case arrives against a backdrop of regulatory pressure on VGW overseas. Escalante founded the company in 2010 and later expanded into the United States with online sweepstakes style casino brands such as Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker. The group grew into a business with an estimated valuation of about 3.1 billion dollars.

Regulators in several US states have since challenged that model. VGW exited markets including New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia following legal disputes over the legality of its offerings. Those departures reshaped the company footprint in the US while operations continued elsewhere.

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