Two Cardiff men have received suspended prison sentences after operating an unlicensed poker operation from an industrial unit in Splott between August 2022 and February 2024. Noor Rassam, 29, and Panayiotis Karayiannis, 30, were each handed three-year sentences suspended for three years after admitting to possessing and transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Operation and Enforcement Action

The illegal gambling den was fitted out with six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, seating areas, and fully stocked refreshment facilities. Come February 2024, officers from Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit executed warrants at the industrial premises and linked residential and business addresses, working alongside the Gambling Commission, HMRC, and Cardiff Council's Licensing Department.

The investigation uncovered a major operation generating substantial undeclared profits. Evidence showed the operators actively promoted games to individuals involved in serious criminality, with the venue attracting drug dealers and organised crime group members. Players lost considerable sums with no legitimate safeguards in place, and some became indebted to the organisers.

Wider Harm and Regulatory Message

Sue Young, Gambling Commission Executive Director of Operations, made the enforcement position crystal clear: "If you run an illegal casino, you will be caught, and there will be significant consequences. We continue to work with partners to take action against those operating unlicensed gambling in Great Britain."

Detective Constable Charles Lan pointed to the broader criminality facilitated by the operation. Unlike licensed operators who implement robust player protections and responsible gambling measures, the illegal den had no safeguards for vulnerable participants or those developing problematic gambling behaviours. The venue, frankly, functioned as a money laundering operation for organised crime networks.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been scheduled for 9 April 2027 to determine asset recovery. The case underscores why the regulatory framework exists: to protect players, prevent criminal exploitation, and maintain industry integrity.