Two men who ran an illegal poker operation in Cardiff were sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for three years, following a joint operation run by Tarian and the Gambling Commission.
illegal poker operation Cardiff operated out of a converted industrial unit in Splott between August 2022 and February 2024. Six tables, a prize wheel, a cashier’s window and an online arm called “Fish Tank Online” generated roughly £260,000 in one account. Both operators pleaded guilty and were sentenced on 2 October, with confiscation hearings set for 9 April 2027.
- The Illegal Poker Venue in Splott
- How £260,000 Left the Building
- A Rake From Every Hand
- What Comes Next for the Defendants
Two men, Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis, are now facing suspended sentences after Cardiff Crown Court found they had run an unlicensed poker venue in an industrial unit in Splott. The venue operated as “Ding Ding Poker” before rebranding as “Fish Tank Poker Cardiff”. Both men pleaded guilty on the first day of their trial to possessing and transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The case was handled jointly by Tarian, the organised crime unit for southern Wales, alongside the Gambling Commission, HMRC and Cardiff Council’s licensing team. Detective Constable Charles Lan said the organisers turned the unit into a commercial-style poker operation between August 2022 and February 2024, with games advertised both in person and online.
The Illegal Poker Venue in Splott
Investigators found six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, seating areas and a cashier’s window guarded by Perspex. Fridges stocked with drinks and snacks, closed-circuit cameras and an on-site office filled out the room. The office held chips, tokens and records of money transactions, giving officers a clear picture of how the operation ran.
Access came through a fire exit, and the whole premises was seized in February 2024. Officers also took cash, documents, digital devices and other materials from the industrial unit and from addresses connected to both defendants. The site looked less like a private party and more like a licensed venue that had simply skipped the paperwork.
How £260,000 Left the Building
Financial examination showed around £260,000 deposited into an account linked to Rassam and approximately £124,000 into an account connected to Karayiannis. The money moved through accounts rather than staying in the industrial unit, which is why the criminal property charges were brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act rather than as simple theft.
AGBrief has been following the Gambling Commission’s enforcement drive across illegal gambling venues.
Both men admitted the charges, so the court avoided a lengthy trial. The sentencing came on 2 October, with confiscation and forfeiture to be considered in a separate hearing on 9 April 2027. The £260,000 and £124,000 figures are the amounts linked to the men; the confiscation hearing will decide how much is actually recovered.
A Rake From Every Hand
The operation took a commission from every hand, which investigators call the rake, instead of betting against players. That is what separated the men from legitimate tournament operators: they profited from the games rather than competing within them, and the money never left their control.
Lan said the organisers promoted their games to people involved in serious crime, even boasting about drug dealers and organised crime group members attending. Lan called the harm done by the operation significant, pointing to players who lost substantial sums and became indebted to the organisers.
What Comes Next for the Defendants
The Gambling Commission said its message stays firm: run an illegal casino and the operation gets reported, gets caught and brings serious consequences. Sue Young, the executive director of operations, repeated the warning during the case.
The pattern is not isolated to Cardiff. Coordinated raids in Sheffield and Doncaster this year produced more than £110,000 in cash plus a substantial quantity of gold, with similar sweeps commissioned in Manchester and Bristol during the summer. At the Bingo Association’s annual general meeting in May, the Commission promised to intensify enforcement against illegal land-based gambling.
iGaming Business has tracked the £26 million government funding the Commission will receive over the next three years to expand that work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the two Cardiff poker operators?
Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis were sentenced on 2 October to three years in prison, suspended for three years. Both pleaded guilty to possessing and transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Confiscation and forfeiture will be reviewed at a hearing on 9 April 2027.
How big was the illegal poker operation?
The venue ran in an industrial unit in Splott from August 2022 until February 2024 and used six poker tables, a prize wheel, seating areas and a Perspex-protected cashier’s window. Access was via a fire exit. Around £260,000 went to Rassam’s account and £124,000 to Karayiannis’s.
How did the men make money?
They took a commission from every hand, known as the rake, rather than playing against customers. The operation also advertised games in person and online, including a subscription-based arm called “Fish Tank Online”, with mobile data showing WhatsApp promotions.
What happened to the seized cash and assets?
Cash, documents, digital devices and other materials were seized from the industrial unit and connected addresses in February 2024. A separate Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will consider confiscation and forfeiture, scheduled for 9 April 2027. The court has not yet set a final recovery figure.
Who ran the illegal poker venue in Cardiff?
Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis are the two operators who pleaded guilty and were sentenced on 2 October. Financial examination linked around £260,000 to Rassam and £124,000 to Karayiannis. Tarian, the Gambling Commission, HMRC and Cardiff Council’s licensing team worked together on the case.
Are there other illegal gambling raids in the UK?
Yes. Coordinated raids in Sheffield and Doncaster produced more than £110,000 in cash plus gold, with similar operations in Manchester and Bristol during the summer. At the Bingo Association’s annual general meeting in May, the Commission promised to intensify enforcement against illegal land-based gambling.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
