Los Angeles, California – Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, alongside five other individuals on a federal indictment alleging their involvement in an illegal high-stakes gambling operation. The indictment, unsealed in Los Angeles, accuses Arenas of operating an illicit poker ring from his Encino, California, mansion.
According to federal prosecutors, Arenas, 43, allegedly rented out his upscale residence for the purpose of hosting high-stakes poker games, including Pot Limit Omaha, between September 2021 and July 2022. He is accused of instructing an associate, Arthur Kats, 51, to organize the events, recruit hosts, and collect a "rake" or house fee from the games.
The five other individuals indicted include Yevgeni Gershman, 35, identified as an alleged member of an Israeli organized crime group, along with Evgenii Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, and Ievgen Krachun. Gershman faces additional charges related to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and making false statements for immigration purposes.
Arenas has been charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. Each count carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison if convicted. Arenas pleaded not guilty during his arraignment and was subsequently released on a $50,000 bond, with his trial scheduled for September 23.
This is not Arenas’s first encounter with legal issues; he famously faced a 50-game NBA suspension in 2010 following a locker room gun incident that reportedly stemmed from gambling debts. The current allegations mark another significant legal challenge for the three-time NBA All-Star, who was known as "Agent Zero" during his career with the Washington Wizards. The arrest has generated considerable discussion on social media, with fans and commentators reacting to the serious nature of the charges.