Cardiff illegal poker operation leads to suspended sentences

Two men, Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis, have received three-year suspended prison sentences for operating an illegal poker den in Cardiff, Wales. The operation, which ran from August 2022 to February 2024, was located in an upstairs room of an industrial unit in Splott.

Investigators described the venue as a highly sophisticated operation featuring six poker tables, a prize wheel, CCTV monitoring, and a dedicated cashier’s office with a Perspex-protected window. The operation was promoted via WhatsApp and included online poker games. Authorities noted that the proceeds were used to fund a lavish lifestyle for the organizers.

The investigation was a joint effort involving the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit, the Gambling Commission, HM Revenue and Customs, and Cardiff Council’s Licensing Department. Police reported that the games were promoted to individuals involved in serious criminality, including drug dealers and organized crime members. Both men pleaded guilty to possessing and transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. A hearing regarding the proceeds of crime is scheduled for April 9, 2027.