Two men handed suspended jail terms over illegal Cardiff poker den
Two Cardiff men have received suspended prison sentences after admitting offences involving criminal funds generated through an illegal poker operation in Splott.
Noor Rassam, 29, of Pentwyn, and Panayiotis Karayiannis, 30, of Pontprennau, each received a three-year prison sentence, suspended for three years, the Gambling Commission said. Both admitted possessing and transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The pair ran the games from August 2022 until February 2024 in an upstairs room at an industrial unit. The premises had six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, seating areas and fridges stocked with food and drink.
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In February 2024, officers from Tarian, the regional organised crime unit, carried out warrants at the venue and at homes and businesses linked to the men. The investigation involved the Gambling Commission, HMRC and Cardiff Council’s licensing department. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is scheduled for April 9, 2027.
Sue Young, Gambling Commission Executive Director of Operations, said they had received information about the illegal operation and acted accordingly.
“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,” she said.
“We will continue to work with partners and take action against those who run illegal gambling operations in Great Britain.”
Poker is treated as a game of chance under UK gambling laws, and there are tightly limited exemptions for some low-stakes social games, but commercial poker or casino activity outside properly authorised premises is unlawful. The rules are intended to prevent gambling being associated with crime, ensure games are conducted fairly and protect vulnerable people.
Detective Constable Charles Lan of Tarian said the pair ran the business for personal financial gain and that its profits had not been declared for tax purposes. He said the investigation found the games had been promoted to people involved in serious criminality.
“The harm caused by this operation should not be underestimated,” he said.
“Individuals lost significant sums of money through these games, with some becoming indebted to the organisers.
“Unlike legitimate gambling operators, there were no safeguards in place to identify or support vulnerable people, nor any measures to protect those experiencing gambling addiction.”
The Gambling Commission also regulated many of the top online poker sites for the UK market, while several of the top poker players in the world come from here, including Stephen Chidwick and Ben Heath.
