Two individuals have been arrested following a coordinated enforcement operation targeting an unlicensed gambling venue on Chester Road in Manchester city centre. A 33-year-old man and 66-year-old woman were detained on suspicion of offences under the Gambling Act 2005 and Licensing Act 2003 after the raid on 28 May.

Multi-agency operation

Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester team led the operation in partnership with the Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council’s licensing department. Officers seized gambling tables, chips, gaming records, account books, alcohol, cash, and mobile phones from the premises.

Financial Crime and Money Laundering specialists from the police force are now supporting the investigation. This suggests the enquiry goes well beyond simple licensing breaches into potential financial crime.

Wider enforcement push

The Manchester operation reflects a real intensification of regulatory activity against unlicensed gambling. It comes shortly after the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched a dedicated illegal gambling taskforce, signalling Government commitment to tackling the issue at a national level.

The Gambling Commission has received £24.5 million in Government funding specifically to bolster enforcement against illegal gambling operations, including underground land-based venues. Sue Young, the Commission’s Executive Director of Operations, emphasised that tackling unlicensed activity remains a regulatory priority.

The enforcement context

Unlicensed gambling operations have become an increasingly visible problem across the UK. The rise of temporary ‘pop-up’ venues and private gaming clubs operating without proper licensing creates real enforcement challenges for local authorities and regulators alike.

Local licensing authorities hold primary responsibility for enforcing premises standards and verifying that operators hold appropriate permissions under the Gambling Act 2005. That Act governs licensing, consumer protection standards, crime prevention measures, and fair play requirements.