Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday, July 30, 2025, on federal charges for his alleged involvement in an illegal gambling operation. The arrest, which took place in Los Angeles, is the latest in a series of controversies that have followed the talented but tumultuous basketball player.
According to the indictment, Arenas, 43, is accused of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. The charges stem from an alleged high-stakes poker ring run out of a mansion owned by the former Washington Wizards point guard.
Federal prosecutors allege that from September 2021 to July 2022, Arenas’s property was used to host illegal poker games. Authorities have also charged five other individuals in connection with the operation.
This is not the first time Arenas has been linked to gambling-related issues. In a well-publicized incident in December 2009, Arenas and then-teammate Javaris Crittenton were involved in a locker room confrontation over what was reported to be a gambling debt from a card game. The dispute escalated to the point where firearms were brought into the team’s locker room, leading to lengthy suspensions for both players from the NBA. Arenas eventually pleaded guilty to a felony charge of carrying a pistol without a license.
That incident significantly altered the trajectory of Arenas’s once-promising career. A three-time NBA All-Star known for his explosive scoring and “Agent Zero” moniker, Arenas’s on-court production declined following the gun scandal and subsequent injuries.
As this is a developing story, more details are expected to emerge as the case proceeds through the legal system. Arenas is expected to make his initial court appearance soon to face the charges.
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