NEW YORK, N.Y. – A former high-stakes poker game hostess to the stars has pleaded guilty in New York in a sprawling federal prosecution.
Molly Bloom pleaded guilty to illegal gambling Thursday in Manhattan.
Prosecutors allege two Russian-American organized crime enterprises laundered $100 million from illegal online sports betting.
Bloom moved her poker games from Los Angeles to New York to cater to Wall Street financiers. She returned to the West Coast in 2010. Her lawyer says she was giving up poker. She has since signed a book deal.
Media reports have linked Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Affleck to the games. A spokesman for both film stars has declined to comment.
Playing poker isn’t a crime, but it’s illegal to profit by promoting it.
