Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and suspected Israeli crime figure arrested in high-stakes illegal poker empire at California mansion, prosecutors said
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The allegedly illegal poker nights included private chefs, valets, and armed security at a mansion in Encino, Calif., prosecutors said.
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July 31, 2025
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Finance·fraudFormer NBA star Gilbert Arenas and suspected Israeli crime figure arrested in high-stakes illegal poker empire at California mansion, secutors saidBy Amanda GerutBy Amanda GerutNews Editor, West CoastAmanda GerutNews Editor, West CoastAmanda Gerut is the west coast editor at Fortune, overseeing publicly traded es, executive compensation, Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, and investigations.SEE FULL BIO Former Washington Wizards player Gilbert Arenas addresses the media before the game between the Washington Wizards and the Miami Heat at Capital One Arena on November 18, 2022 in Washington, DC.Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesEx-NBA star turned media entrepreneur Gilbert Arenas was arrested alongside six others in what secutors claim was a high-end illegal gambling operation that took place at his luxury five-bedroom Mediterranean style in suburban Los Angeles
Arenas is facing at least five years in prison on the charge; he told authorities previously that he was unaware any illegal gambling was going on in the house, which he had rented out
Former Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, 43, also known as “Agent Zero,” was arrested on Wednesday with six other defendants on charges related to what secutors claimed was a sophisticated illegal gambling that operated out of a luxe mansion in suburban Los Angeles
According to court records, a cornerstone of the illegal poker games was the Arenas owned on Gable Drive in Encino
Authorities alleged Arenas rented out the estate, which was then staged as a high-end poker den featuring Pot-Limit Omaha, a game similar to Texas Hold ‘em
The poker nights allegedly hired chefs, armed guards, valets and a custom felt-topped poker table with “Arenas Poker ” embossed in all-caps and black and gold
The indictment alleges that one man in the crew, Israeli suspected organized crime figure Yevgeni Gershman, hired women to work at the games
In exchange for tips, the women served cocktails, vided massages and offered “companionship” to poker players, the indictment states
The women were then required to pay a “tax” of 25% to 35% of their earnings just to be able to work at the games, authorities claim. secutors alleged Gershman in May 2022 texted a woman to ask her, in code, “whether she was open to engaging in stitution at his illegal poker game at the Gable House that night.” Attempts to reach Arenas and Gershman were unsuccessful
Arenas played in the NBA for 11 seasons on teams such as the Wizards, Golden State Warriors, and Orlando Magic. ing his basketball career, he launched a second act in , hosting a podcast, No chill with Gilbert Arenas, after starting his own media company with the same name
He also s a YouTube show weekly that includes NBA personalities, and he’s made multiple investments in real estate ventures in California and Virginia
Arenas married French YouTuber and singer Melli Monaco this year. secutors claim the poker games differed from friendly card-game nights because the house collected a “rake,” which is a percentage or fixed fee from each pot
The games involved roughly two dozen players and more than a dozen staff members to facilitate illegal gambling, secutors said, and operated from September 2021 through July 2022
The indictment lays out a complicated allegedly criminal enterprise centering around the games
Gershman, 49, allegedly handled the day-to-day, while Arenas allegedly collected rent and fees through an agent
West Hollywood man Arthur Kats, 51, allegedly served as the go-between, authorities said, collecting thousands of dollars in rent payments and setting up the house for game nights
Four others were charged, according to court documents, including Evgenni Tourevski, 48, of Tarzana; Allan Austria, 52, of West Hills; Yarin Cohen, 27, of Tarzana; and Ievgen Krachun, 43, of Tarzana
The indictment states that crew allegedly managed the actual operations, recruiting players and handling money
Authorities said Tourevski allegedly handled dealers, texting s in his phone d as “Frankie Poker Dealer” and “Dealer Poker” to arrange croupiers for the table games
Austria allegedly managed security, bringing in armed guards and texting photos of games while they were in gress
Cohen allegedly handled the finances, texting the others with data showing the amounts of the rakes, “taxes,” and expenses, the indictment states
Krachun allegedly worked as a “chip runner” who tracked wins and losses, distributed poker chips, and paid workers, court records show
Federal agents raided the Encino mansion in July 2022, the indictment states, and Arenas allegedly tried, at that point, to distance himself from the poker games
In a petition to recover money seized in the raid, Arenas claimed he “was not involved in whatever was going on at the party.” The indictment includes text messages allegedly showing that Arenas was aware of pot-limit Omaha games and that he at one point contemplated filming a YouTube episode at one of the games for his channel, Gil’s Arena, which has more than 1 million rs
The defendants face five years on each of the charges
Tourevski, Austria, Cohen, Kats, and Krachun could not be reached for
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