The former player allegedly hosted the games in a mansion in Los Angeles
Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA All-Star, was arrested yesterday following a federal indictment accusing him of operating illegal poker games out of a mansion in Los Angeles. The indictment, unsealed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, details how Arenas allegedly rented out his Encino property from September 2021 to July 2022 to host high-stakes poker games.
Arenas, known for his time with the Washington Wizards, is charged alongside several co-conspirators, including Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, Ievgen Krachun, and Yevgeni Gershman, a figure believed to have ties to organized crime in Israel. The charges stem from running illegal Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) games where a “rake” was collected. Raking, or taking a fee from each pot, is illegal under US gambling laws, and the group allegedly used the mansion as a venue for these unlawful activities.
According to the indictment, Arenas directed his associate, Arthur Kats, to stage the mansion and handle the logistics of the games. The games were reported to be lavish affairs, with armed security, chefs, and valet services. Gershman is further accused of bringing young women to the games to serve drinks and provide massages, all while taking a portion of their earnings.
Along with the conspiracy and illegal gambling charges, Arenas faces an additional count of making false statements to investigators. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The six defendants are set to appear in court, with the legal proceedings expected to unfold over the coming months.
Arenas, a passionate poker player, has previously been involved in high-profile poker events, such as the 2014 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. This arrest marks the second time his involvement in poker has led to legal trouble, following a 2009 incident where the NBA suspended him after bringing guns into the team locker room due to a gambling dispute.
