NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Busted in Secret High-Stakes Poker Ring Operation at Home—What Really Went Down?

Arenas was suspended for much of the 2009-10 NBA season after a confrontation where his former Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton threatened him with a loaded gun in the locker room. As Arenas told it, after an argument with Crittenton over a game of Bourré, Crittenton said he would shoot Arenas, to which Arenas said he called his bluff and would give him the guns. The next day, Arenas said he laid out four guns in front of his locker and told Crittenton to pick one, but instead Crittenton pulled out his own loaded gun. After the incident, Arenas pled guilty to illegal possession of an unlicensed handgun in the District of Columbia.

Gilbert Arenas, once a dazzling three-time All-NBA talent, now finds himself in the midst of a legal storm that’s shaking up more than just the basketball world. Alongside five others—one allegedly a top-tier figure in an Israeli organized crime syndicate—Arenas stands accused of orchestrating high-stakes illegal poker games right from his own Los Angeles mansion. The upcoming arraignment looms large as he faces serious charges, including conspiracy and operating an unlawful gambling enterprise, not to mention making false statements to federal officials. Each conviction carries the heavy possibility of a five-year prison stint. This saga peels back the curtain on a lavish, illicit operation complete with armed security, hired courtesans offering companionship, and a complex network of conspirators managing the whole affair—all under the scrutiny of major federal agencies. Given Arenas’ turbulent past, including a dramatic locker room gun incident that once sidelined his NBA career, this latest chapter adds a deeply complex layer to his already stormy legacy. LEARN MOREFrom the U.S. Attorney’s Office:The ongoing investigation was a coordinated effort of the Homeland Security Investigations’ Northridge Office, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division — Transnational Organized Crime Section, and the IRS Criminal Investigation.Arenas is set to be arraigned on Wednesday, charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California. Three-time All-NBA player Gilbert Arenas has been arrested, along with five other defendants – “including a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group” – for allegedly running illegal high-stakes poker games out of a Los Angeles home owned by Arenas.

Arenas could serve up to five years in prison for each count for which he is convicted.The crew allegedly ran illegal “Pot Limit Omaha” poker games, among other illegal games, according to the indictment. Young women were hired and “served drinks, provided massages, and offered companionship to the poker players” in exchange for tips (the women were charged a “tax” on their earnings paid to the organizers. There also were armed security guards, chefs, valets parking cars for the games and more, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.“According to the indictment returned on July 15 and unsealed today, from September 2021 to July 2022, [suspected organized crime figure from Israel Yevgeni] Gershman, Arenas, and the other defendants operated an illegal gambling business. Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games. At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games, found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf.”