Antonio Gates Allegedly Hosted and Played in Rigged Miami Poker Game, Report Says
A new report has surfaced alleging that Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates hosted and participated in a rigged poker game in Miami. The game was reportedly organized by Curtis Meeks, who was recently indicted by federal prosecutors as part of a massive gambling scandal that has shaken the NBA.
Sports investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported on Sunday that Gates was involved in the allegedly rigged game. Details remain limited, but Torre’s report follows an earlier story by The Post on Saturday. In that report, one purported victim claimed that he and his friends were scammed out of nearly $1 million. The victim described an ex-NFL player serving as the “face card” for the game, with Meeks as a main participant.
The federal indictment, unsealed last week, named over 30 individuals and revealed separate, elaborate sports betting and rigged poker game schemes. High-profile figures mentioned include Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones.
Federal prosecutors allege that Billups acted as a “face card” for the rigged poker games, with mob-linked organizers using his fame to lure unsuspecting players—referred to as “fish”—into their high-tech gambling scheme.
As of now, Antonio Gates has not publicly commented on the report. It is also unclear whether his alleged involvement is directly related to the rigged poker scheme federal prosecutors have been investigating.
The Post’s source could not confirm if the game they participated in was part of the broader poker ring but noted that Curtis Meeks was involved in the game. The source added, “we would never have been there if not for the professional athlete,” though the athlete was not named.
The federal indictment has sent shockwaves through the sports world, and the possibility of athletes outside the NBA being involved adds further complexity to the scandal.
Antonio Gates, recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, spent his entire NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers. Over 16 seasons, Gates accumulated 11,841 receiving yards and 116 receiving touchdowns. He last played professionally in 2018.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and the broader gambling scandal impacting professional sports.
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Follow The Post’s Latest Coverage on the NBA Gambling Scandal:
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https://nypost.com/2025/10/27/sports/antonio-gates-allegedly-hosted-and-played-in-rigged-miami-poker-game-report/
