Online gambling executive and billionaire Laurence Escalante has appeared in a Perth court to face multiple criminal charges, prompting his company, Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), to confirm that he has temporarily relinquished his leadership roles. The 44-year-old founder is accused of offenses spanning family violence, assault, burglary, property damage, and drug-related crimes, according to police and court records. Escalante, a...
Louisiana lawmakers are escalating their efforts to curb sweepstakes gambling with the introduction of House Bill 53 (HB 53), a measure designed to tighten enforcement by classifying certain gambling offenses as racketeering crimes. The bill, pre-filed by Representative Bryan Fontenot in January 2026, proposes adding various gambling-related crimes, including those associated with sweepstakes casinos, to the state’s racketeering statute. This move aims...
The prospect of casinos coming to South Carolina remains unlikely as the state’s legislature has once again stalled a casino bill. House Bill 4176, which proposed the creation of a Las Vegas-style casino along the I-95 corridor, was sent back to the House Ways and Means Committee last week, effectively killing the proposal for this year. The bill had initially been...
On January 30, 2026, the Maltese Civil Court ruled against the enforcement of an Austrian court judgment requiring a Malta-licensed operator to repay almost €500,000 to a player. The decision is a significant development in Malta’s stance on cross-border “player recovery” cases, particularly those involving gambling losses incurred on Malta-registered platforms. The case involved Virtual Digital Services Limited, which operates the Mr...
As the Super Bowl approaches, New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a stern warning to consumers about the risks associated with prediction markets. These online platforms, which allow users to trade on event outcomes such as sports results or political events, are unregulated in New York. James emphasized that these markets do not offer the same consumer protections...
Macau opened the year with higher casino takings, adding to signs of a broader economic recovery that continued through the end of last year. Official data released by the city’s gaming and statistics authorities point to gains in both gambling revenue and overall output, supported by rising visitor numbers and firmer domestic demand. In January, casinos in Macau generated just...
The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a criminal complaint against Villar Land Holdings Corp., its related entities, and several of its current and former officers, alleging a pattern of misleading disclosures, improper trading activity, and insider dealing that regulators say distorted the company’s share price and misled investors. The complaint, filed with the Department of Justice on January...
Novomatic AG has again extended the deadline for its takeover bid for Ainsworth Game Technology Limited, setting February 6, 2026, as the new and final closing date for the offer. The extension, confirmed in regulatory filings lodged on January 30, marks the third time the Austrian gaming equipment supplier has revised the timetable for its attempt to acquire full ownership of...
Chicago-area horse racing is approaching a critical moment as Hawthorne Race Course struggles to stabilize its finances amid unpaid obligations, suspended racing, and growing concern from horsemen that the region’s last remaining track may be nearing the end of its operations. During a meeting of the Illinois Racing Board on January 28, Hawthorne assistant general manager John Walsh acknowledged that the...
DraftKings is preparing to introduce a new way for customers in several U.S. states to fund online sports betting accounts, allowing cryptocurrency to be converted into cash before being deposited. The rollout, discussed publicly during a recent Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting, highlights how state regulators continue to take different approaches to digital currency use in regulated wagering. At the meeting, Chief...