Two Sentenced for Operating Illegal Poker Den in Cardiff

Two men have been sentenced for their involvement in an unlicensed gambling den that operated from an industrial estate in Cardiff. Noor Rassam, 29, and Panayiotis Karayiannis, 30, both from Pontprennau, Cardiff, ran illegal poker games from an upstairs room in an industrial unit in Splott between August 2022 and February 2024.

The room was equipped with six poker tables, a large prize wheel, seating areas, and stocked fridges. The games were accessible both in-person and online, promoted via WhatsApp messages, according to Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for southern Wales. Organizers actively promoted the games to individuals involved in serious crime, including drug dealers and organized crime groups, which Tarian stated helped facilitate further criminal activity.

Online games were hosted on a subscription-based poker application named Fish Tank Online, while in-person events were initially advertised as Ding Ding Poker before being rebranded as Fish Tank Poker Cardiff. Access to the industrial unit was through a fire exit, and the premises were monitored by CCTV cameras controlled by Rassam and Karayiannis. An office within the building contained gambling paraphernalia, poker chips, tokens, and financial records. A cashier's window, protected by Perspex, included a small opening for transactions.

Investigators found that Rassam received approximately £260,000 in third-party payments during the venue's operation, while Karayiannis received around £124,000. Both accounts showed numerous transactions referencing "poker." The pair profited by taking a commission from each poker hand, known as "the rake," rather than by directly wagering against players. Det Con Charles Lan of Tarian ROCU stated that the pair generated "substantial profits" from the illegal business, which was never declared for tax purposes. Lan added that the enterprise funded a lavish lifestyle, including foreign holidays and other high-value spending. Individuals lost "significant sums of money" playing the games, with some becoming indebted to the organizers. Unlike legitimate gambling operators, the den lacked safeguards for vulnerable individuals or those with gambling addiction.

The investigation began after intelligence was received by the Gambling Commission and passed to Tarian ROCU. In February 2024, warrants were executed, leading to the arrest of Rassam and Karayiannis. Officers seized cash, documentation, digital devices, and other high-value items.

On the first day of their trial at Cardiff Crown Court, both Rassam and Karayiannis pleaded guilty to offenses of possessing and transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. They received a three-year prison sentence, suspended for three years. Det Con Lan emphasized that the sentence demonstrates unlicensed gambling is not a "victimless offense" and warned those who profit from it while disregarding protective safeguards will face legal consequences. Sue Young, Gambling Commission executive director of operations, stated that the case emerged from a tip-off about the illegal den and issued a clear message: "if you run an illegal casino, there will be a tip-off, you will be caught, and there will be significant consequences." The Gambling Commission stated it will continue to collaborate with partners and take action against illegal gambling operations in Great Britain.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been scheduled for April.