Poker is a game that the world enjoys, but sometimes people enjoy the game in the “wrong” manner. Such a situation has arisen in two diverse locations this week. In these instances, a top player from the U.S. Men’s National Team in soccer and a New Jersey politician have run afoul of the law and hit the poker police blotter – while considered innocent until proven guilty, both men have some issues that they have got to rectify!
U.S. Soccer Player Under Investigation in Europe
In Italy, a player for the U.S. Men’s National Team is under investigation and on the poker police blotter for allegedly participating in illegal betting options online, potentially including online poker.
Weston McKennie, who is slotted in as one of the midfielders for the USMNT looking toward the 2026 World Cup, is one of the names that are allegedly being investigated. In 2023, two players, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli, were banned from the Italian Serie A (the top soccer league in Italy) for illegally gambling on their own sides. During that investigation, both players offered up other players who also took part in the wagering.
Fagioli allegedly fingered McKennie for his supposed gaming activities while both men were members of the powerful Italian side Juventus in 2023. Fagioli, who bet on Juventus matches, was suspended for seven months after sending texts to online site owners that he could bring in other players. In speaking about fellow Italian Men’s National Team player Nicolo Zaniolo, Fagioli’s phone was found in communications with organizers of the betting sites, with a message saying, “Bravo, capture him…work for me.”
McKennie is not thought to have bet on any sports or other gaming activities. The situation is tricky as both Tonali and Fagioli, who served massive suspensions for breaking the Italian gaming rules, cited McKennie as “likely” to participate in the activity. McKennie isn’t the only player facing scrutiny; nine other players who are now or were in Serie A are being examined. One of the players outside of Serie A flagged by Tonali and Fagioli was English Premier League and Dominican Republic Men’s Team defender Junior Firpo, who will also have some questions to answer.
New Jersey City Councilman Arrested in Gaming Ring
The next member of the poker police blotter comes after a two-year investigation into undercover poker clubs in the New Jersey area. In that investigation, thirty-nine people were arrested and charged with the operation of a massive gambling ring.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin announced the results of the two-year investigation last week. Through the investigation, undercover officers found that there were four different “poker club” locations throughout the Garden State. These four sites, located in Totowa, Garfield, Woodland Park, and Paterson, allegedly held gambling machines and poker paraphernalia and operated online sportsbooks.
A wide range of activities were available at what were masquerading as “social clubs.” The machines were operational, and poker games ran throughout the day. The sportsbooks handled traffic from multiple online sites that took in wagers. ‘Managers’ were left in charge of the day-to-day operations, including poker games, collecting the appropriate ‘rent’ money from participants, and overseeing the staff. These ‘managers’ then would report to a ‘higher level’ manager and turn over the money.
Noteworthy among those arrested was an interesting figure harkening back into the annals of history. George Zappola, alleged by AG Platkin to be a “top member” of the Lucchese Family (of the “Five Families” of New York mafia fame), was listed as the man with overall responsibility for the endeavor. The Lucchese Family is still powerful today, involved with gambling and narcotics trafficking, and led (from prison) by Don Vittorio Amuso.
On down the list of those amongst the thirty-nine men brought in was Prospect Park City Councilman Anand Shah. AG Platkin alleges Shah to have been one of the ‘managers’ who were involved with the day-to-day workings of the club. These clubs that Shah is said to have operated brought in over $3 million in profits, which were laundered through several companies to hide where they came from.
On Monday, Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah posted on his Facebook page a call for the resignation of Shah from the city’s City Council. The letter, which was (strangely) unsigned by city officials, stated “the seriousness of the charges brought against him has created an unfortunate and ongoing distraction from the vital work we are elected to do on behalf of the community. This moment calls for leadership that prioritizes the needs of the people above all else. Stepping down is not an act of abandonment – it is a recognition that the continued focus must remain on serving Prospect Park without disruption.”
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