{"id":10026,"date":"2025-10-30T02:48:44","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T02:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/30\/antonio-gates-denies-role-in-poker-scandal-linked-to-mob-backed-games\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T02:48:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T02:48:44","slug":"antonio-gates-denies-role-in-poker-scandal-linked-to-mob-backed-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/30\/antonio-gates-denies-role-in-poker-scandal-linked-to-mob-backed-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Antonio Gates Denies Role in Poker Scandal Linked to Mob-Backed Games"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>NFL legend Antonio Gates has denied any involvement in the rigged poker games at the center of a <a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/casino-news\/fbi-arrests-nba-coach-chauncey-billups-in-sports-rigging-probe\/\">federal investigation<\/a> that has already led to the arrest of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><em><strong>Good to Know<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Gates has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing by authorities.<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong>The FBI says the poker games were part of a mafia-backed operation called \u201cOperation Royal Flush.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong>The games allegedly used cheating devices and recruited athletes to lure wealthy players.<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p>The poker scheme, under federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, allegedly relied on professional athletes and celebrities to attract high-stakes gamblers. According to officials, the games featured rigged machines, concealed cameras, and communication devices that allowed organizers to manipulate outcomes and defraud players of hundreds of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n<h2>Was Antonio Gates Involved in the Miami Games?<\/h2>\n<p>Former ESPN reporter and podcast host Pablo Torre recently alleged that Gates had both played and hosted one of the high-stakes poker games in Miami. Torre claimed the sessions were organized by Curtis Meeks, who was indicted by the federal government last week.<\/p>\n<p>Torre also said NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett attended one of the games but left early without playing. Additionally, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was reportedly present at some Las Vegas games alongside Billups, though at a different table.<\/p>\n<div class=\"main-org-3-item-ins box-100 relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-items box-100 relative\">\n<div class=\"box-100 space-org-3-item relative border-tb mt-1 \">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-ins box-100 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-logo-title-box box-100 text-left relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-box box-25 relative img-radius\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/7-bit-casino\/\" title=\"Visit Site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t<amp-img alt=\"7Bit Casino\" src=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/7BitCasino.png.webp\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" layout=\"fixed\"><br \/>\n\t\t<\/amp-img><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-title box-25 relative py-10\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/7-bit-casino\/\" title=\"7Bit Casino\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">7Bit Casino<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-terms box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-terms-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n\t\t<strong>177% up to 5BTC + 77 <strong>\u00a0Free Spins<\/strong>!<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"pt-1\">New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of 177% + 77 Free Spins\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-rating box-25 relative mb-10\">\n<div class=\"rating-box text-center box-100  relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-rating-box relative\">\n<div class=\"stars\"><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-rating-notice relative\">Casino<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-button box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-button-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/7-bit-casino\/\" title=\"Visit Site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\tVisit Site<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Following those reports, Gates issued a statement through his business manager, Denise White, rejecting the allegations.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAntonio Gates has not been involved nor has he been accused of any wrongdoing, assertions to the contrary are false and without merit,\u201d<\/em> <strong>White said<\/strong>. <em>\u201cThere will be no further comments on this matter.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Neither Garnett nor Lue has publicly commented, and the NBA has not confirmed whether it is investigating the claims.<\/p>\n<h2>How Deep Did the Poker Scheme Run?<\/h2>\n<p>Investigators allege the rigged games were financed by organized crime and used professional athletes, referred to as \u201cface cards,\u201d to attract wealthy targets known as \u201cfish.\u201d Once the games began, every dealer and player involved in the scheme allegedly worked together to cheat participants.<\/p>\n<div class=\"main-org-3-item-ins box-100 relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-items box-100 relative\">\n<div class=\"box-100 space-org-3-item relative border-tb mt-1 \">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-ins box-100 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-logo-title-box box-100 text-left relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-box box-25 relative img-radius\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/mirax-casino\/\" title=\"Visit Site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t<amp-img alt=\"Mirax Casino\" src=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Mirax-Casino.png.webp\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" layout=\"fixed\"><br \/>\n\t\t<\/amp-img><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-title box-25 relative py-10\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/mirax-casino\/\" title=\"Mirax Casino\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Mirax Casino<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-terms box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-terms-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n\t\t<strong>350% or 5BTC + <strong>150 Spins!<\/strong><\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"pt-1\">New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of 350% + 150 Free Spins\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-rating box-25 relative mb-10\">\n<div class=\"rating-box text-center box-100  relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-rating-box relative\">\n<div class=\"stars\"><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-rating-notice relative\">Casino<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-button box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-button-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/mirax-casino\/\" title=\"Visit Site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\tVisit Site<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>\u201cWhat the victims, the fish, didn\u2019t know is that everybody else at the poker game \u2013 from the dealer to the players, including the face cards \u2013 were in on the scam,\u201d<\/em> said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella. <em>\u201cOnce the game was underway, the defendants fleeced the victims out of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per game.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Federal prosecutors say violence was sometimes used to collect unpaid gambling debts. \u201cOperation Royal Flush,\u201d as the FBI dubbed it, remains active as agents continue to identify more participants and victims linked to the operation.<\/p>\n<p>So far, authorities have confirmed that the games stretched across multiple cities, including Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. The ongoing investigation may yet reveal more high-profile names connected to the scheme.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3>What was Operation Royal Flush?<\/h3>\n<p>It is the FBI\u2019s investigation into a mafia-backed network of rigged poker games involving athletes, celebrities, and wealthy gamblers.<\/p>\n<h3>Was Antonio Gates charged?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Gates has not been charged or accused by law enforcement of any role in the poker operation.<\/p>\n<h3>Who organized the Miami poker games?<\/h3>\n<p>Federal indictments name Curtis Meeks as a key organizer of the Miami events.<\/p>\n<div class=\"main-org-3-item-ins box-100 relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-items box-100 relative\">\n<div class=\"box-100 space-org-3-item relative border-tb mt-1 \">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-ins box-100 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-logo-title-box box-100 text-left relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-box box-25 relative img-radius\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/mirax-casino\/\" title=\"Visit Site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t<amp-img alt=\"Mirax Casino\" src=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Mirax-Casino.png.webp\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" layout=\"fixed\"><br \/>\n\t\t<\/amp-img><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-logo-title box-25 relative py-10\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/mirax-casino\/\" title=\"Mirax Casino\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Mirax Casino<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-terms box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-terms-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n\t\t<strong>350% or 5BTC + <strong>150 Spins!<\/strong><\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"pt-1\">New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of 350% + 150 Free Spins\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-rating box-25 relative mb-10\">\n<div class=\"rating-box text-center box-100  relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-rating-box relative\">\n<div class=\"stars\"><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><span class=\"star on\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-rating-notice relative\">Casino<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-button box-25 relative\">\n<div class=\"space-org-3-item-button-ins box-100 text-center relative\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/site\/mirax-casino\/\" title=\"Visit Site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\tVisit Site<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>What cheating methods were used?<\/h3>\n<p>Investigators found that the games used rigged shuffling machines, wireless communication devices, and chip trays fitted with hidden cameras.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/poker-news\/antonio-gates-denies-role-in-poker-scandal-linked-to-mob-backed-games\/\">Antonio Gates Denies Role in Poker Scandal Linked to Mob-Backed Games<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/\">iGaming.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NFL legend Antonio Gates has denied any involvement in the rigged poker games at the center of a federal investigation that has already led to the arrest of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. Good to Know Gates has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing by authorities. The FBI says the poker games [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poker"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10026\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}