Despite the serious allegations, Arenas appeared unfazed, tweeting 'THEY CAN'T HOLD ME,' accompanied by a meme.

On July 31, 2025, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and five others were arrested on federal charges for running an illegal gambling operation at his Encino mansion.

The high-stakes poker games reportedly began in February 2022 and were held weekly, with plans to promote them via social media.

Investigators uncovered a structured setup at Arenas' residence, involving organized 'Pot Limit Omaha' games and a 'chip runner' to manage logistics.

Evidence for the indictment included text messages between Arenas and associates, detailing plans for the gambling games, including financial discussions and scheduling.

Prosecutors allege that Arenas expressed interest in taking a portion of the gambling profits, known as a 'rake', for personal reasons.

Arenas, known as 'Agent Zero', has a notable NBA career averaging 20.7 points over 11 years, primarily with the Washington Wizards.

This incident echoes Arenas' past legal troubles, including a 2009 incident where he pulled a gun on a teammate over a card game, leading to a 50-game suspension.

The indictment follows the recent release of a Netflix documentary about Arenas' career, which highlighted previous gambling-related incidents.

Arenas was released from jail on July 30, 2025, just hours after his arrest, and was seen smiling as he left the facility.

If convicted, Arenas could face significant prison time, which may jeopardize his career as a media personality covering the NBA.

In personal news, Arenas' son, Alijah, a freshman basketball player at USC, is currently sidelined due to knee surgery following serious health challenges.