Gilbert Arenas Indicted for Allegedly Running Illegal High-Stakes Poker Games

What the Indictment Says

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Gilbert Arenas is accused of renting out a mansion he owned in Encino, California, and allowing it to be used to host illegal poker games between September 2021 and July 2022. While private games aren’t prohibited under U.S. law, collecting a rake — a percentage of each pot or a fixed fee per hand — is.

That’s exactly what prosecutors allege took place.

Arenas is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and an additional charge of making false statements to federal investigators. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.

Who Else Was Charged?

The indictment names five co-defendants:

• Yevgeni Gershman, a suspected member of an Israeli organized crime group
• Evgenni Tourevski
• Allan Austria
• Yarin Cohen
• Ievgen Krachun

The group allegedly worked together to organize and run Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) games at the property. Arenas is said to have directed a West Hollywood man, Arthur Kats, to stage the mansion for the events and collect rent from those involved in managing the games.

Krachun reportedly acted as a chip runner and bookkeeper. Tourevski, Austria, Cohen, and Gershman allegedly ran the games, managed the rake, and arranged the logistics.

A Lavish Poker Setup

This wasn’t a few friends gathered around a kitchen table. The poker games described in the indictment were far from low-key. Players were seated at custom black-and-gold “Arenas Poker Club” tables. Chefs prepared food. Valets managed cars. Armed security guards were stationed at the premises.

Source: US Attorneys Office

Gershman is also accused of hiring women to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to players. According to prosecutors, those women were required to pay a portion of their tips back to the organizers — a “tax” on their earnings.

Not Arenas’ First Poker Controversy

Gilbert Arenas’ connection to poker is nothing new. Fans of Hustler Casino Live might remember him appearing on the stream in a $100/$200/$200 PLO game in 2022. He also played in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event back in 2014, showing off solid fundamentals and a real interest in the game.

But his poker past hasn’t always been clean. In 2009, while still playing in the NBA, Gilbert Arenas brought firearms into the Washington Wizards locker room during a dispute over a poker debt with teammate Javaris Crittenton. That led to a season-ending suspension and a felony guilty plea.

What Happens Next?

All six defendants were scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles this Wednesday for arraignment. The case will now proceed through the U.S. District Court, where the charges will be formally presented.

If convicted, Arenas and the others face a maximum of five years per count — a potential reality check for a poker operation that, for a while, looked more like a VIP club than a legal liability.