Gilbert Arenas: Update on Illegal Gambling Ring Arrest

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was back in the headlines, but for an arrest on an alleged illegal gambling ring at his home in Encino, California, which could be sold around $3.5 million, according to Housing Market News. Here is the latest update on the authorities’ arrest of Arenas, 43, on Wednesday.

Gilbert Arenas’ Illegal Gambling Ring Arrest

Gilbert Arenas, who played as a point guard in the NBA from 2001 to 2013, made headlines on Wednesday, but for an alleged illegal gambling ring in his Encino mansion — and not for making a controversial opinion or defending the Los Angeles Lakers on his podcast “Gil’s Arena.”

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on X, formerly Twitter, “Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and suspected Israeli crime figure were arrested today on federal indictment alleging they operated illegal gambling business in which high-stakes poker games were played at Encino mansion Arenas owned.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) shared to its website, “Arenas, 43, a.k.a. “Agent Zero,” of Woodland Hills, is 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.”

Arenas Breaks His Silence After Arrest

Gilbert Arenas and five other Defendants — Yevgeni Gershman, Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, and Ievgen Krachun — were charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. Their initial appearances and arraignments were scheduled in the United States District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon.

Arenas broke his silence after his arrest and release following a $50,000 bail bond. Arenas posted a video on X of him running down a flight of stairs, as he yelled, “Can’t hold me, baby! They can’t hold me! Hello!” and wrote, “I’m back on the streets. This ain’t got [expletive] to do with me, just rented the house. Wasn’t a part.”

Final Thoughts

Gilbert Arenas can be described as a man of many words, with his controversial takes and reasons to defend the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Arenas seems to find himself in a sticky situation with an alleged illegal gambling ring running out of his residence.

Arenas previously made headlines for his firearms incident with his then-teammate Javaris Crittenton at the Washington Wizards’ locker room in December 2009. Arenas and Crittenton, now 37, pulled guns on each other after a card game gone wrong. No one was injured, but both players were suspended, and their professional basketball careers were never the same.