Tobey Maguire, the actor widely recognized for swinging through New York City as Peter Parker in the Spider-Man trilogy of the early 2000s, found another arena where he could excel—high-stakes poker. As “Spider-Man 2” was raking in impressive box office numbers, Maguire was also amassing wealth at the poker table, diving into the competitive world of high-stakes games.

His poker journey began in earnest in 2004, when he became part of the exclusive games organized by Molly Bloom, whose story was later famously chronicled in “Molly’s Game.” Maguire’s passion for poker only intensified, but the nature of high-stakes games meant that not all players could always settle their debts.

This week, Maguire found himself in an unfamiliar role, not as a superhero, but as a witness in the criminal tax trial of attorney Tom Goldstein. The case has its roots in a poker match held in December 2019, where Maguire squared off against billionaire banker Andy Beal. Testifying for the prosecution, Maguire recounted how he clinched a $15.6 million pot, expecting to pocket $7.8 million from his winnings. However, Beal failed to honor his debt, leaving both Maguire and other players who had placed side bets unpaid.

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The indictment against Goldstein reveals that Beal continued to dodge his financial obligations until 2021. It states that Beal, referred to as “the Texas Businessman,” proposed a settlement to Maguire and the side bettors that was far below the amount owed.

Unwilling to accept a lesser sum, Maguire sought the expertise of Goldstein, whom he had encountered in “poker circles,” to help recover the outstanding debt. Goldstein successfully assisted in securing the money, for which Maguire compensated him with $500,000 in legal fees. This payment was transferred to Bob Safai, a real estate mogul, to aid Goldstein in settling his own poker-related liabilities.

Maguire didn’t want to accept a reduced payment, and that’s where Goldstein comes in. Maguire hired the lawyer, saying he met him in “poker circles,” to help collect the debt. Goldstein helped procure the money, and Maguire paid him $500,000 in legal fees. Maguire wired the payment to Bob Safai, a real estate mogul, to help Goldstein pay off other poker debts the lawyer owed.

If that sounds complicated to you, you’re not alone. However, Maguire said these types of deals happen regularly, and the money often exchanges hands without anything on the record.

Goldstein’s trial is expected to go on for another couple of weeks. He’s on trial for tax evasion, falsifying tax returns, failing to pay taxes, and giving false statements to mortgage lenders.

Despite the foray into the courtroom, Maguire will continue playing in high-stakes poker matches. He just hopes people are better about paying up.