Kickr – the social sportsbook and sweepstakes casino – is closing its doors at the end of March 2026.
New users are already unable to sign up, and existing users can no longer purchase coin bundles – these rules came into force yesterday on March 1. The platform is also recommending that all players redeem any remaining Bucks before March 31 – after this date Kickr will no longer be available in any capacity.
A recent email sent out to players highlights how the decision was made “due to shifting market conditions and our parent company’s strategic decision to focus on new verticals and brands.”
It’s unfortunate, as we awarded Kickr 84.5/100 in our review of the platform.
Kickr’s Closure Appears to be Part of Escalante-linked Brand Restructuring Efforts
Kickr was founded and operated by Kickr Games Pty Ltd, a company under the ownership of Laurence Escalante’s family office.
Escalante is the billionaire founder and majority shareholder of Virtual Gaming Worlds, the company behind giant sweeps brands like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand. So while Kickr was never attached to VGW directly, its closure seems to come as part of the restructuring of sweepstakes brands connected to Escalante.
For example, VGW announced the launch of LuckyLand Casino in December last year, a new platform built once again on the sweepstakes model, and it’s also planning to roll out United Slots as another entry later this year.
That means its core brands will be:
It seems the VGW portfolio is pivoting away from any sportsbook element, while doubling down on sweepstakes casino-led brands and maintaining a sweepstakes poker platform.
It’s also worth noting that some VGW brands have been phasing out Sweepstakes Coin (SC) gameplay in many US states recently – in response to anti-sweeps laws – while continuing to maintain Gold Coin (GC) play.
Kickr’s Closure Comes as Escalante Faces Serious Criminal Charges
However, complicating matters is the fact that Escalante is personally facing multiple criminal allegations, including domestic violence and drug-related offences. He recently appeared at the Magistrates Court of Western Australia in Perth for a second court hearing this year.
After his initial court appearance in January, VGW announced that Escalante would be vacating his role as CEO:
“We are aware of the serious charges made against Mr Escalante. These are unrelated to VGW and personal in nature. However, we can confirm Mr Escalante will be taking a leave of absence from his role as CEO and Executive Chairman of VGW. In the interim, we have installed experienced leadership from our existing executive team to take on those responsibilities and it remains business as usual for VGW.”
Launched in mid-2023, Kickr’s run in the sweeps space now comes to an end after less than three years, and its closure lands at a turbulent time for all Escalante-linked ventures.
To reiterate, Kickr players should submit redemption requests for any remaining Bucks as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. For players searching for new sweepstakes casino sportsbooks, the following match the description and our rating criteria:
- Legendz jackpot network
- Instant card redemptions
- Live dealers, sportsbook & Originals
- Casino games & sports picks
- 200% extra SC with our code
- Missions and leaderboards
- Multiple social betting features
- Android and iOS apps
- 250+ casino-style games
Author: Jon Ridehalgh
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