NHL Player Arthur Kaliyev’s Problem Gambling Revealed After Ex-Girlfriend Files Charges

The extent of former Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers forward Arthur Kaliyev‘s gambling habit has come to light amid revelations from his ex-girlfriend Lauren Mochen. The player has reportedly shown signs of problem gambling since his rookie season with the Kings in 2021-22.

Mochen alleges that Kaliyev stole, borrowed, and begged for money over their 3-year relationship. She has filed a police report accusing the Uzbekistan-born hockey player of fraud, claiming he scammed her out of $50,000.

The social media influencer took to TikTok to post a 33-part story of her 3-year relationship with Kaliyev. She asks her 734,000 followers to determine whether Kaliyev is an athlete or a scam artist.

In the videos, she details how Kaliyev stole money from her PayPal account, sent her checks that bounced, and borrowed money, using various excuses. It was revealed that a substantial portion of the money was transferred to betting accounts at Crypto.com, FanDuel, and an offshore betting site.

In an interview with the New York Post, Mochen also claimed that he still owes his agent, former teammates, and others money. He was paid $825,000 per year when playing for the LA Kings, but has seemingly gambled away most of his salary.

Kings Refused to Waive Kaliyev Until Debts Paid

Kaliyev appears to have been consistently plagued by debt throughout his NHL career. About a month before the Kings waived the player in January, former Los Angeles general manager Rob Blake approached his agent, Ian Pulver, about the forward’s outstanding debts to the team’s trainers.

Blake said that he would not be put on waivers or traded until the debt was repaid. Mochen says that she had to give Kaliyev money to pay. He was then placed on waivers and claimed by the New York Rangers. He played 14 games for the Rangers, scoring three goals, but that was not enough to secure a contract.

Mochen says Kaliyev talked about killing himself after learning he wouldn’t be offered a contract. She also says that he refused help for his gambling problem.

In March, she suggested he get help through the NHL Player Assistance Program, but he responded, “No, don’t even start with the program, don’t even start. Please.” 

Mochen said she has never heard from the NHL or the Player Assistance Program. The league’s relationship with gambling has come under scrutiny, with a study highlighting the prevalence of gambling ads during games. It was found that during the Stanley Cup, gambling ads appeared once every 13 seconds.

In addition to showing signs of problem gambling, Kaliyev told Mochen of a troubled relationship with his family. He alleged his parents were abusive and freezing his assets. His sister, Elvina, says his parents took control of his finances over concerns about his gambling.

Kaliyev Allegedly Owes Former Teammates

After New York released Kaliyev, the Ottawa Senators picked him up, and he is currently playing for the Belleville Senators in the AHL. As a result, his salary has taken a hit, and he is currently paid $425,000. That would rise to $775,000 if he returns to the Senators.

The drop in wages could create further problems for the player. Pulver has been his agent since 2020, but he told Mochen that he has never been paid. Former teammates also claim Kaliyev still owes them money. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty reportedly said he owed several players “around $50,000” over the years for a collection of “fines, fees, group bets and betting pools.” 

This suggests betting is rife across the NHL. The league prohibits players from betting on hockey games, but allows other forms of gambling. An NHL spokesperson said it had looked into the matter and there was “no substantiation that anything Kaliyev was doing was in violation of our rules or applicable law.” 

The NHL recently extended its relationship with gambling. It became the first major sports organization to partner with Kalshi and Polymarket.