UPDATE: As of April, 2025 – more than two years after receiving the cease-and-desist letter – VGW has now finally chosen to cease operating in the state of Delaware
In February 2023, the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) issued a cease-and-desist order to Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW).
The DGE’s order explicitly stated that VGW was operating an unlicensed online gambling business in violation of Delaware law. The DGE addressed the cease-and-desist letter to Laurence Escalante (the founder of VGW) personally, underscoring the seriousness of the violation.
Despite this directive, VGW continues to operate its platforms in Delaware, disregarding the state’s enforcement actions.
Implications of VGW’s Non-Compliance in Delaware
VGW’s decision to continue its operations in Delaware, despite the cease-and-desist order, highlights the company’s ongoing defiance of state regulations and Laurence Escalante’s willingness to violate laws in the United States. This situation underscores the challenges regulators face in enforcing gambling laws against entities that operate without proper licensing.
As legal scrutiny intensifies across the United States, the viability of VGW’s illegal business model is facing increasing pressure.
About Fair Gaming Advocates
At Fair Gaming Advocates we promote integrity and fairness in gaming. We achieve this through education, guidance, and legal action to protect consumers from deceptive and illegal gambling businesses.
About VGW and Laurence Escalante
VGW is an illegal gambling operation that pioneered the illegal online sweepstakes casino business model. VGW operates Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker; VGW is the world’s largest operator of illegal online sweepstakes casinos. Laurence Escalante, an ostentatious and controversial gambling billionaire, founded VGW in 2010 and has illegally earned billions of dollars since its inception.