VGW Founder Faces Court on Violence and Drug Charges

Australian gambling mogul Laurence Escalante has shown up in a Perth court to deal with a bunch of heavy criminal accusations. These include family violence, assault, burglary, and drug-related crimes. Because of this, he has taken a break from running his billion-dollar company Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), at least for the time being.

VGW Founder Faces Eight Charges Over Alleged Perth Home Incident

The 44-year-old businessman, who runs online casino-style gaming platforms for US customers, faces eight charges after an event at a Perth home earlier this week. Police claim Escalante broke into the house of a 24-year-old woman he knew, said to be his ex-girlfriend, where he broke things, took valuable items, and attacked her, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Prosecutors informed the court that the alleged events took place on Australia Day after the woman ended her year-long relationship with Escalante in December. They claim he forced his way into her bedroom and hit her, making her fall. Officials also said that items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, including expensive jewelry and watches, were stolen during the incident.

Along with the latest claims, police described what they called a pattern of violent and controlling behavior over several months, with charges related to events that happened between mid-2025 and January 2026. These include claims of repeated attacks and ongoing family violence.

Escalante Steps Aside as CEO Following Arrest and Drug Seizure

After Escalante’s arrest, police searched his home with a warrant. They found large amounts of illegal drugs, including cocaine and MDMA. This led to several charges for possession with intent to sell.

The court granted Escalante bail with strict rules. He must check in with the police and pay a big sum as security. His lawyers say he plans to fight the charges. Escalante asked the court to keep case details private, citing safety concerns due to his wealth and fame. The court said no to this request.

Right after the hearing, VGW put out a statement. It confirmed Escalante would step away from his job as chief executive for a while. The company said the claims were personal issues not linked to how it runs. It also said other leaders would take care of things while he is gone.Escalante started VGW in 2010. He is now one of Australia’s wealthiest people, worth over AUD 4.5 billion ($3.1 billion). His company has grown fast by offering online games that work in legal grey areas in the US market.