Laurence Escalante, the billionaire founding father of playing model Digital Gaming Worlds (VGW), has been charged with assault, housebreaking, and drug offences.
The betting magnate’s fees have been introduced ahead in Perth Magistrates Court docket in Western Australia, the place it was alleged that he persistently engaged in household violence, inflicting bodily hurt to people, broke into a number of properties, and was in possession of Class A medication.
Escalante faces critical allegations
The costs laid towards VGW’s Escalante on Friday, 30 January 2026, present offences that carry substantial penalties in relation to persistent household violence, aggravated assault, aggravated housebreaking, and drug provide offences.
They embody “trafficable portions” of cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine, which have resulted within the three counts of possessing medicine with intent to promote or provide.
The billionaire may have an opportunity to enchantment and contest the fees laid towards him, however has made a public assertion by way of a playing information outlet, The Straight.
“My arrest on these issues has come as a shock to myself and my household. From the little I do know of the allegations at this stage, I can solely say that they’re unfaithful and shall be defended. I ask for each mine and my household’s privateness be revered, and thank them for his or her help,” mentioned Escalante.
Perth Now has reported that the businessman has met the $100,000 bail bond and has been topic to remaining in Western Australia and to a restraining order on contacting these recognized as potential victims.
VGW speaks out in gentle of the Escalante allegations
A VGW spokesperson acknowledged to ReadWrite that “We’re conscious of the intense fees made towards Mr Escalante. These are unrelated to VGW and private in nature. Nevertheless, we are able to verify Mr Escalante shall be taking a go away of absence from his position as CEO and Government Chairman of VGW.”
The corporate has made a acutely aware choice to separate Escalante from VGW’s day by day operations. This can possible stay the case till the senior government seems once more in Perth Magistrates Court docket on February 26, 2026.
“Within the interim, now we have put in skilled management from our present government staff to tackle these tasks and it stays enterprise as common for VGW. The corporate takes any allegations of this nature extraordinarily severely. As it is a non-public matter and stays earlier than the courts, we can not remark additional,” the spokesperson concluded.
Featured picture: VGW Facebook.
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