Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas is facing the prospect of hard time after after federal prosecutors accused him of running a high-stakes poker game out of his California home.
Feds say former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was running an illegal poker game
On June 30, the three-time all-star was one of six people arrested in connection with operating an illegal gambling ring in Encino, California.
Arenas, 43, is charged with one count each of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. Yevgeni Gershman of Woodland Hills; Evgenni Tourevski of Tarzana; Allan Austria of West Hills; Yarin Cohen, of Tarzana; and Ievgen Krachun of Tarzana were each charged with one count each of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and operating an illegal gambling business. Gershman is also accused of marriage fraud.
During his initial court appearance and arraignment on July 30, Arenas pleaded not guilty, KTLA reports. He was released on $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is September 23. If convicted, Arenas and the other defendants could face up to five years in federal prison for each count.
According to the indictment, from September 2021 to July 2022, Arenas and the other alleged criminals – including Gershman, who is suspected of being high-ranking member of an Israeli organized crime group – ran an illegal gambling business out of an Encino home rented by Arenas.
“At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games, found people to host the games, and collected rent from on Arenas’ behalf,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen managed and collected a rake on “Pot Limit Omaha” poker and other illegal games at Arenas’ mansion. Gershman also hired young women to serve drinks and provide companionship to players. Krachun was a “chip runner” who tracked players’ wins and losses, distributed poker chips, and paid employees.
Arenas’ infamous locker room gun incident was subject of a recent Netflix doc
Arenas – identified by his player nickname “Agent Zero” in court docs – played in the NBA from 2001 to 2012. In 2009, he was at the center of a major scandal involving himself and teammate Javaris Crittenton. The two men pulled guns on each other in the Washington Wizards locker room after argument over a card game. Despite reports that the dispute was related to gambling debts, both say it really stemmed from trash-talking that escalated to physical threats.
Both Arenas and Crittenton pleaded guilty to misdemeanor gun charges. The were also suspended for the rest of the 2009-10 season. The incident ended Crittenton’s basketball career. He later served 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Arenas now hosts a podcast, Gil’s Arena.
The Crittenton-Arenas incident was the subject of a 2025 installment of Netflix’s docuseries Untold.
“There’s always a line between being a prankster and going too far,” Arenas says in Shooting Guards. “And I was always on that line.”
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