Two men convicted for running illegal poker club in Cardiff with six tables

Two men in Cardiff were convicted for running an illegal poker club between August 2022 and February 2024; both pleaded guilty and were given three-year prison sentences, each suspended for three years. The activity took place in an industrial unit in Splott and the case led to a joint investigation involving Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit, the Gambling Commission, HM Revenue and Customs and the Cardiff Council Licensing Department. A hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act is scheduled for 9 April 2027.

What happened and when

Between August 2022 and February 2024, Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis organised illegal poker games from an upstairs unit in an industrial estate in Splott, Cardiff. Investigators recorded that the premises contained six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, seating areas and fridges stocked with food and drinks. In February 2024, warrants were executed at the industrial unit and at addresses and businesses linked to the operation.

Both defendants appeared in court, pleaded guilty to possessing and transferring criminal property contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and were sentenced to three years' imprisonment, each sentence suspended for a period of three years. The hearing on asset recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act is fixed for 9 April 2027.

Operational teams and agencies involved

The police action was led by Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (Tarian ROCU) with support from the Gambling Commission, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Cardiff Council Licensing Department. The inter-agency coordination included obtaining and executing multiple search warrants at residential and commercial properties related to the operation.

The Gambling Commission participated as the regulator, identifying an unauthorised gambling premises. The Gambling Commission took part in the administrative and regulatory work that accompanied the police inquiries. Tarian ROCU reported findings on the nature of the proceeds and the premises' links to individuals involved in serious criminality; that information fed into the criminal case and the file for the asset-recovery hearing.

Investigation findings and evidence

Investigators concluded the premises generated undeclared proceeds of a significant amount that funded high-value personal expenditure. Material evidence was recovered at the premises and at linked addresses which, according to officers, demonstrated income derived from the gambling activity. Investigators also gathered material suggesting active promotion of games among people involved in serious criminality.

"This case emerged after we received information about an illegal gambling den. The message is clear if you run an illegal casino, there will be a tip off, you will be caught, and there will be significant consequences," said Sue Young, Gambling Commission Executive Director of Operations.

Detective Constable Charles Lan, of Tarian ROCU, stated that the business generated undeclared proceeds that were spent on overseas holidays and high-value purchases, and that the organisers had promoted the games among individuals linked to organised crime and drug trafficking.

Impact on players and protection duties

Authorities stressed that participants suffered significant financial losses with no player-protection measures or addiction support in place. In an unlicensed venue there are no regulatory controls over game management practices, anti-money laundering checks or player-protection protocols. That absence of safeguards was a prominent factor in the investigation and the evidence presented to the court.

Legal consequences and next steps

The two defendants, Noor Rassam, 29, of Pentwyn, and Panayiotis Karayiannis, 30, of Pontprennau, received suspended prison sentences of three years each. The suspension means they will not be sent to prison if they comply with the conditions imposed during the period set by the court; the specific conditions were not detailed in the public notes of the trial supporting this coverage.

The hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act, set for 9 April 2027, will determine whether authorities seize assets or income deemed to be the proceeds of crime. That hearing will be the stage at which authorities quantify and claim assets linked to the detected illegal gambling activity.

Relevance for operators and regulators

The case shows that operators of unauthorised premises face criminal investigation, criminal sanctions and asset-recovery proceedings. For regulators, collaboration between specialist police units such as Tarian ROCU, the Gambling Commission and HMRC remains the usual mechanism to dismantle illegal gambling networks and pursue both operational activity and the resulting financial proceeds. For regulator guidance see [regulation](/regulation).

The combination of physical inspections — searches at the premises and related properties — and financial investigation allowed authorities to link gambling proceeds to high-value personal expenditure, a factor that often strengthens cases under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Operators in the sector should note how enforcement actions are co-ordinated with regulatory activity and with local licensing authorities; operators can consult [b2b](/b2b) resources for compliance context.

Who the organisers were

The two men charged and convicted are:

• Noor Rassam, 29, of Pentwyn.

• Panayiotis Karayiannis, 30, of Pontprennau.

Both pleaded guilty to the charges under legislation on criminal property. Public statements from the agencies and court records record the basic information on ages, addresses, charges and sentences; no additional details about prior convictions have been published in the available notes.

Final observations

The case was presented as an example of joint intervention between regulatory and policing agencies to tackle unauthorised physical gambling spaces. The asset-recovery hearing on 9 April 2027 will be the phase when the final quantification of assets claimed by authorities is disclosed.