An American poker player found himself at the center of an investigation involving illegal sports betting, money laundering, and transactions exceeding US$3 million. This is Devon Shalmi
Shalmi, a Boca Raton resident with over US$225,000 in recorded poker tournament winnings, was arrested on September 8 after an undercover investigation that lasted more than a year. Authorities claim he operated Allgames365.com, a site used to accept unauthorized sports bets.
According to the investigation, undercover agents obtained accounts that allowed them to bet with credit lines between US$1,500 and US$5,000. Payments related to the bets were allegedly made through platforms like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, while in some cases clients were asked to label transfers with non-gaming terms, such as “consulting fee”.
The detail that finally alerted investigators appeared when analyzing a business account linked to Shalmi. Between August 2025 and July 2026, it reportedly received approximately US$3.05 million in deposits and recorded US$2.99 million in withdrawals. Authorities consider these transactions inconsistent with the business activity declared by the company.
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All charges in the indictment
Shalmi faces charges of bookmaking, conspiracy to commit bookmaking, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, illegal use of a communication device, and maintaining a gambling establishment. After his arrest, he was held in the Palm Beach County jail and his bail was set at US$3 million. His first court hearing is scheduled for October 10.
This is not the first time Shalmi has had legal issues related to betting. Authorities note he was previously involved in a case for illegal sports betting operations and that in 2017 he pled guilty to money laundering and use of a communication device to commit a crime, for which he received five years of probation.
At the tables, Shalmi has participated even in the World Series of Poker, where he has six official cashes and one final table, although he never won a bracelet.
His lawyer stated they are reviewing the charges and evidence and will present Shalmi’s defense in court. For now, the case is in the investigation stage and the charges do not imply a declaration of guilt.
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