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Two men sentenced for running illegal poker den in Cardiff industrial estate
Overview
Two men, Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis, have been given suspended prison sentences at Cardiff Crown Court for operating an unlicensed gambling den from an industrial unit in Splott, Cardiff. Running between August 2022 and February 2024, the operation offered in-person and online poker games, promoted via WhatsApp and a subscription app, and attracted individuals involved in serious crime. The organisers profited by taking a commission from each poker hand and failed to implement any player protection safeguards. Following an investigation by the Gambling Commission and Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit, warrants were executed in February 2024 leading to their arrest and subsequent guilty pleas.
Key points
- Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis operated an illegal poker den in Splott, Cardiff, between August 2022 and February 2024.
- The venue featured six poker tables, a prize wheel, CCTV monitoring, and a cashier's window.
- Games were hosted both in-person and online via a subscription app called Fish Tank Online and promoted through WhatsApp.
- Investigators found Rassam received about £260,000 and Karayiannis received around £124,000 in third-party payments.
- The organisers profited by taking a commission, known as 'the rake', from each poker hand.
- Both men pleaded guilty to possessing and transferring criminal property and received three-year prison sentences, suspended for three years.