The illegal den ran for 18 months before Tarian ROCU shut it down in 2024.
The hit
Two men behind an illegal poker den in Cardiff have avoided jail. Noor Rassam & Panayiotis Karayiannis were given suspended sentences after pleading guilty to possessing & transferring criminal property, according to Tarian ROCU.
Why it matters
Tarian says the pair used undeclared profits to fund foreign holidays & high-value spending, money the police say came at the public’s expense. Detective Constable Charles Lan says some players fell into debt to the operators, undercutting any idea that unlicensed gambling is victimless.
The record
| Operation dates | August 2022 to February 2024 (Tarian ROCU) |
|---|---|
| Location | Unit on an industrial estate in Splott, Cardiff |
| Setup | Six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, CCTV & a Perspex-protected cashier’s office |
| Promotion | Marketed via WhatsApp, with online poker also offered |
| Sentencing | 3-year sentences, suspended for 3 years, handed down 2 October 2026 at Cardiff Crown Court |
| Agencies involved | UK Gambling Commission, HMRC & Cardiff Council’s Licensing Department, alongside Tarian ROCU |
What happens next
No appeal or further action has been announced. Lan thanked the UKGC, HMRC & Cardiff Council’s Licensing Department, & warned illegal operators ‘can expect to be brought before the courts’.
Sources: Two Men Receive Sentences for Criminal Poker Operation in Wales
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