Pro Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates has been accused of hosting and participating in a rigged poker game in Miami, according to a report released Sunday by sports investigative journalist Pablo Torre.

The game was reportedly organized by Curtis Meeks, a man recently indicted by federal prosecutors in connection with a wide-ranging gambling scandal that has shaken the NBA.

Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates hosted and participated in an allegedly fixed poker game in Miami, per @pablofindsout.

The game was organized by Curtis Meeks, who was indicted Thursday by the federal government. pic.twitter.com/HHem8ohhCQ

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 26, 2025

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Torre’s report came one day after the New York Post published claims from a purported victim who alleged that he and his friends were scammed out of nearly $1 million in a poker game connected to Meeks.

The victim said an unnamed former NFL player was used as a “face card” to attract participants to the game, which prosecutors now describe as part of a larger, coordinated criminal enterprise.

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Federal prosecutors last week unsealed a sweeping indictment naming more than 30 individuals accused of participating in separate but connected schemes involving both sports betting and manipulated poker games.

Among those implicated are Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones.

According to the indictment, Billups allegedly served as a “face card” for one of the poker operations, lending credibility to games organized by figures with ties to organized crime.

Prosecutors say the setup was designed to lure wealthy participants—referred to in the indictment as “fish”—into games that were secretly rigged using advanced technology and coordinated dealer manipulation.

It is not yet clear whether Gates’ alleged involvement is directly connected to the federal probe.

No criminal charges have been filed against him.

Breaking: I just received a statement from Antonio Gates’ business manager, Denise White, who says that her client hasn’t been involved in any wrong doing.

Her full statement: pic.twitter.com/nrFalySIst

— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) October 27, 2025

The New York Post source, who said he was defrauded in one of Meeks’ poker games, could not confirm whether the event was part of the same ring described in the indictment.

However, he said Meeks was present during the game and that the presence of a professional athlete was what convinced him and his associates to participate.

“We would never have been there if not for the professional athlete,” the source said, though he declined to name the individual involved.

The federal investigation has already upended several professional sports circles, raising concerns that athletes from outside the NBA may have also been drawn into the operation.

Prosecutors allege that the network of games stretched from Miami to Las Vegas and involved a combination of professional athletes, entertainment figures, and associates linked to illicit gambling enterprises.

Gates, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers.

A converted college basketball player from Kent State, Gates became one of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history, finishing his career with 11,841 receiving yards and 116 touchdowns before retiring after the 2018 season.

The indictment does not name Gates or any NFL players, but the new claims have sparked speculation about the scope of the investigation and whether more athletes could be implicated as prosecutors continue their work.

Meeks, who faces multiple felony charges, is accused of leading a network that combined high-stakes sports betting and fraudulent poker operations designed to siphon money from wealthy participants under the guise of legitimate games.

The Justice Department has not commented on whether additional indictments are expected, but court filings indicate that investigators are continuing to review communications and financial records tied to the alleged gambling ring.

If confirmed, the allegations against Gates would represent a significant expansion of the case’s reach beyond the NBA, signaling that professional sports figures from multiple leagues may have become entangled in one of the most far-reaching gambling scandals in recent memory.

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