Israeli Poker Champion Gal Yifrach Detained by ICE

Israeli poker player Gal Yifrach, best known in the poker world as the reigning North American Poker Tour Main Event champion and from his appearances on live-streamed cash game shows such as Live at the Bike and Hustler Casino Live, has been detained by ICE and is currently being held at the ICE facility in Adelanto, California.

The federal US government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has almost certainly detained him due to his illegal gambling and money laundering charges from 2022.

In March of that year, Yifrach — along with three of his business partners — was federally charged for allegedly running an illegal video slot machine scheme in the Sacramento, California area. Yifrach used those funds to buy chips in legally operating casinos in California, such as the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, the poker room where Live at the Bike used to be streamed from. He then diverted some of the cashed-out funds into real estate, hence the money laundering charge.

The Israeli cardplayer has been out on bond and was able to avoid incarceration thus far. According to court documents, he had a trial confirmation hearing scheduled for October 5th this year, but no trial date set yet. It is very unusual for over four years to pass between a federal indictment and the start of the criminal trial. 

It is most likely the Trump administration’s stricter stance on non-US citizens with criminal cases that landed him in jail after so many years.

If convicted on all charges, Yifrach faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison and $750,000 in fines.

Who is Gal Yifrach?

At the felt, Yifrach has had a tremendous career.

He has $2.993 million in live tournament earnings. On top of the aforementioned NAPT Main Event title, he also has a WSOP gold bracelet, having won the $3,000 No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event for $461,798 in June 2018.

He also came in 3rd in a $50,000 NLHE High Roller for $495,305 at the 2021 World Series. Yifrach’s largest cash is the $543,025 he got for winning the NAPT Main Event last November.

As for he’s lives-stream cash game show appearances, Yifrach is up $144,190 according to the tracker on Highrollpoker.com, across his many sessions on Live at the Bike and Hustler Casino Live.