A Southern California poker pro’s hot streak ended in a nightmare when masked robbers allegedly ambushed him inside his Las Vegas Airbnb and stole his entire bankroll.
Jared Griener, of Huntington Beach, said he returned to his rental around 8 p.m. Sunday after cashing out his winnings from the World Series of Poker — only to find thieves allegedly lying in wait inside.
In a series of posts on X, Griener recounted the frightening encounter.
“Last after busting the closer I collected payouts from the summer and drove back to my Airbnb. When I walked In the front door two men were there waiting, immediately tackled me to the ground and tied me up and took my backpack with my entire roll in it,” Griener wrote.
The backpack contained what he described as “literally all” of his money.
He said he had cashed out because he planned to return to Los Angeles.
“I was hog tied and stuck there for a while trying to escape and finally got out and ran out of the house to a neighbor to call 911. Luckily I am physically unharmed. This was the most terrifying and traumatic experience of my life. All my $ is gone,” he wrote.
Griener said the suspects were two Black men who threatened to kill him if he moved.
According to Griener, the intruders appeared to have inside knowledge of the rental property.
“These people knew the door code to my Airbnb, they were waiting for me inside and video surveillance from neighbors showed they arrived at the Airbnb 10 minutes before me,” he wrote.
The poker pro said he remained bound long enough for the robbers to escape.
“Took me about 15 min to wriggle out of it,” he wrote.
After freeing himself, Griener said he ran to a neighbor’s home, where he called 911.
He believes the suspects may have tracked him after he collected his winnings at the World Series of Poker held at the interconnected Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas on the Strip.
“It’s likely someone was watching me at @wsop and knew that I was on my way home with cash. Las Vegas detectives are currently investigating,” he wrote.
Born in Provo, Utah, Griener now lives in Huntington Beach, California, and is known for competing in high-stakes live tournaments and major cash games in California and Las Vegas.
According to The Hendon Mob‘s live poker database, Griener has earned $3,348,485 in career live tournament winnings, ranking 862nd on the all-time money list and 417th among American players.
He has recorded more than 150 live tournament cashes, won three titles in regional and circuit events, captured one World Series of Poker Circuit Ring, owns no WSOP Gold Bracelets, and has amassed $1,723,561 in WSOP earnings.
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