Poker Writer
Australian billionaire and founder of Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), Laurence Escalante, was hit with nine new drug charges, bringing his total number of criminal charges to 17.
The new charges that Escalante received comprised three counts of possessing a prohibited drug and six counts of unlawfully processing a prescription drug. These charges come in addition to those he already had from his January arrest. He was allegedly found in possession of illegal drugs, and his former partner accused him of assault and said he stole valuable jewelry from her.
Police are adding to the charges against him stemming from that incident, and Escalante could face significant financial consequences in addition to jail time.
Escalante Arrested in January on Domestic Violence Charge
The 44-year-old Perth native was arrested in late January following an altercation with a 24-year-old woman who was his ex-partner. The woman accused Escalante of striking her in the face and stealing jewelry worth up to $150,000. He allegedly destroyed a $66,000 handbag with scissors before leaving the property as well.
Police then raided his house, where they found “trafficable quantities” of drugs, such as ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine.
At the time, Escalante denied the allegations:
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.
Crucially for Escalante’s finances, the additional charges open up the possibility that the government could confiscate his wealth. According to a local report, Western Australia’s drug trafficking laws open the door to such a possibility:
Under WA’s tough laws, the state can recoup assets owned, controlled or given away by a declared drug trafficker, regardless of whether the assets are the proceeds of crime.
This was the billionaire’s first appearance in court since posting the $100,000 bond to release himself from custody. He is due to appear back in court on June 18.
VGW Moving on Without Escalante for the Moment
Escalante took a leave of absence from his role as CEO and executive chairman with VGW.
The company generated $4.3 billion in revenue in 2024 from sweepstakes casinos, Chumba Casino, LuckyLandSlots, and Global Poker.
However, Escalante’s business model has increasingly come into the crosshairs of state regulators in the U.S. VGW withdrew from the state of New York in 2025 and is outright banned in six states.
Escalante allegedly takes full advantage of the success of VGW, living a life of lavish luxury. The one-time fast food worker now owns yachts, private jets, and is prominently involved in racing. VGW has sponsored cars in both F1 and NASCAR.
As more charges pile on, Escalante may find himself further estranged from the billion-dollar company he founded, especially if the Australian government comes after his finances.
Image credit: Nachoman-au/Wikimedia Commons (license)
