Poker Pro Jared Griener Allegedly Robbed and Hogtied After WSOP Cashout

^{Jared Griener, a professional poker player from Huntington Beach, California, says he was ambushed inside his Las Vegas Airbnb after cashing out his WSOP summer winnings on July 12. (Photo: courtesy of TMZ)}

Professional poker player Jared Griener says he was tackled, hogtied with duct tape, and allegedly robbed of thousands of dollars last Sunday after cashing out at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Once he left the WSOP, he drove home to his Airbnb rental in Summerlin only to find two men waiting for him inside the locked home.

“They tackled me and pinned me down and told me they’d kill me if I moved,” Griener wrote on X on July 13. They “took my bag with literally all my money in it.” 

According to Griener, the men threatened to kill him if he moved. After subduing him, they repeatedly asked where his backpack was. Griener told them it was in his car, hoping they would leave. They took it, placed dishes on his back while he was tied up, and left. It took Griener about 15 minutes to wriggle free from the duct-tape restraints. He ran barefoot to a neighbor's house, still with duct tape on his wrist, and pleaded for them to call 911. 

“It’s likely someone was watching me at [the WSOP] and knew that I was on my way home with cash,” Griener said. “These people knew the door code to my Airbnb, they were waiting for me inside.” Footage from a ring camera video showed two people approaching Griener’s home 10 minutes before he arrived.

How Much Was Taken?

The exact amount taken is unconfirmed, but Jared had cashed in four WSOP events this summer, taking home $57,500 in the Main Event alone.

The Las Vegas Police Department confirmed to KSNV News 3 that an investigation is underway into a reported robbery. No arrests have been made at this time. Airbnb said in a statement that the company is “aware of the incident and ready to support the investigation,” and that it has offered him a partial refund. However, Griener has not yet filed a claim with Airbnb’s host liability insurance at the time of publication.

Griener is from Provo, Utah, and currently lives in Huntington Beach. He’s known as a high-stakes player in both live tournaments and cash games in California and Las Vegas. His career live earnings exceed $3.3 million, according to Hendon Mob, putting him at 865th all-time.

Poker Community Is Skeptical

When Griener first posted about this, the poker community initially rallied behind him. Poker broadcaster and pro Tony Dunst was among the first to respond to him.

Fellow poker pro Andrew Lichtenberger wrote that he was "really sorry to hear this happened to you." Support poured in from many players and supporters across the poker world.

But on social media, comments became more skeptical. Many anonymous accounts questioned Griener’s credibility, insinuating that the alleged robbery was fake.

"If you believe this, I have beach front property in Arizona to sell you," wrote @billdope57 in the X thread. The skepticism spread across poker Twitter, with some pointing to what they called inconsistencies in the account.

Las Vegas detectives are still investigating the situation, and anyone with information can contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 

Griener’s situation is a reminder of the serious risks of carrying large amounts of cash from one casino to another location. Another option for WSOP players cashing out at the end of the summer is to have the money wired directly to their bank account. It takes longer, but it eliminates the need to travel with a backpack full of money.

Griener acknowledged the silver lining of the situation, saying that “luckily [he is] physically unharmed,” but called it “the most terrifying and traumatic experience” of his life.