Supercar Therapy where sick kids get to ride in supercars. Pictured - Laurence Escalante
Billionaire Laurence Escalante has entered into a significant partnership with global wrestling entertainment giant WWE, aiming to enhance the reach of his Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) social casinos group. The multi-year agreement, announced today, is expected to be worth tens of millions of dollars, leveraging WWE’s expansive global profile.
While VGW has not disclosed the exact financial details of the partnership, the collaboration is poised to significantly boost the company’s visibility and engagement, particularly in its primary market, the United States. This deal follows Escalante’s previous high-profile partnership with Ferrari, where he secured a $110 million, three-year agreement in 2023, showcasing VGW on the iconic brand’s Formula 1 cars and merchandise.
Strategic Collaboration with WWE
According to VGW, the partnership with WWE will involve a comprehensive collaboration across multiple platforms, aiming to deliver premium entertainment experiences. The agreement includes utilizing WWE’s global network and superstar talent to create engaging content and campaigns. VGW brands will feature prominently across WWE programming, digital and social channels, and major network broadcasts.
“VGW will access WWE’s global network and WWE Superstar talent to create engaging, high-impact content and campaigns,” the company stated.
WWE, in turn, expressed enthusiasm about leveraging its year-round platform to create continuous premium experiences for fans, further enhancing its sponsorship income as it builds on its $US500 million broadcasting deal with Netflix.
Laurence Escalante’s Vision for VGW
Laurence Escalante, who now holds a 90 percent stake in VGW following an $810 million buyout offer in August last year, has been instrumental in steering the company towards success. Founded in 2010, VGW capitalized on the COVID-19 lockdowns in the US, utilizing legal loopholes to offer online “social” casinos and poker machine games.
Escalante’s strategic moves have revalued VGW at $3.2 billion, with the company expected to earn $550 million after tax in the 2025 financial year on over $6 billion in revenue.
Despite facing regulatory challenges in the US, with some states banning VGW’s games, the company continues to thrive, opting to withdraw from certain markets while maintaining record profitability.
Implications and Future Prospects
The new partnership with WWE marks a pivotal moment for VGW as it seeks to navigate the complex landscape of online gaming regulations and expand its global footprint. By aligning with WWE, VGW is poised to enhance its brand recognition and consumer engagement, potentially opening doors to new markets and audiences.
Meanwhile, WWE’s collaboration with VGW underscores its strategy to diversify revenue streams and enhance fan experiences, building on its significant broadcasting agreements and global reach.
As both companies move forward, industry experts will be watching closely to see how this partnership influences the evolving landscape of entertainment and gaming, potentially setting a precedent for future collaborations between digital gaming platforms and traditional entertainment giants.
