Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was all smiles on Wednesday after posting $50,000 bail following his arrest for allegedly running an illegal high-stakes poker operation out of his Los Angeles mansion.
In a video shared to X (formerly Twitter), Arenas can be seen exiting what appears to be a detention facility, dancing and throwing his fists in the air as he makes his way down a stairwell. Dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, the former Washington Wizards guard grinned widely while approaching the camera, exclaiming, “They can’t hold me.”
The woman filming jokingly shouts “Free!” as Arenas approaches, capturing the light-hearted moment just hours after his release.
Federal prosecutors allege Arenas, along with five co-defendants, rented out his Encino home between September 2021 and July 2022 to host underground poker games. According to the indictment, Arenas hired someone to transform his residence into a full-service gambling hub, profiting by collecting rent from organizers.
The operation reportedly included waitresses, chefs, valets, and armed security, designed to provide a luxurious, repeatable experience for high-end gamblers. Prosecutors claim Arenas and his associates made money by collecting a “rake,” or a fee taken from each poker pot, either as a percentage or flat amount per hand.
Arenas has pleaded not guilty to the charges.