Former NBA star and current podcaster Gilbert Arenas has been arrested and 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, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

Arenas is alleged to have operated an illegal gambling enterprise from September 2021 to July 2022 from a mansion in Encino, California, which he owned. In court, Arenas pleaded not guilty to these charges and was subsequently released on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled for a trial appearance on September 23. Along with Arenas, five other defendants have been charged with similar offenses, including conspiracy to operate and operating an illegal gambling business. Notably, Yevgeni Gershman, identified as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel, is among this group.

According to the allegations, Arenas reportedly rented out the mansion to facilitate high-stakes illegal poker games, including Pot Limit Omaha (PLO). Arthur Kats is said to have played a crucial role in managing the operation under Arenas’ direction, handling logistics such as staging the mansion for the games, recruiting co-conspirators, and collecting rent. Furthermore, the alleged events included the hiring of young women to serve drinks and provide companionship, as well as chefs, valets, and armed security guards. If convicted, the defendants could face up to five years in federal prison for each count, with Arenas facing a maximum potential sentence of 15 years due to the three counts against him. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Samuel J. Diaz from the Transnational Organized Crime Section. Gilbert Arenas, 43, notably enjoyed an 11-season NBA career from 2001 to 2012, primarily with the Washington Wizards, where he earned recognition through three All-Star selections and multiple All-NBA honors, averaging an impressive 20.7 points and 5.3 assists per game. In recent years, Arenas has also gained significant popularity as a podcaster, with his Gil's Arena podcast amassing over 1 million subscribers on YouTube.