Two men receive three-year suspended prison sentences for illegal Cardiff poker den
Noor Rassam and Panayiotis Karayiannis were sentenced after running illegal poker games from August 2022 to February 2024 without player safeguards.
Gambling Commission (Great Britain)Oct 5, 2026
three years: Prison sentence term for both men, suspended
Key takeaways
- 01Rassam and Karayiannis received three years in prison, suspended for three years.
- 02The illegal den in Splott operated with six poker tables and a spinning prize wheel.
- 03A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing for the two men is scheduled for 9 April 2027.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after being convicted of running an illegal poker operation in Wales, according to a notice from the UK Gambling Commission.
Noor Rassam, 29, and Panayiotis Karayiannis, 30, were both sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for three years, following a joint investigation by the Gambling Commission, Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), HMRC, and Cardiff Council.
Den operations and warrants
The illegal gambling den operated from an upstairs room in an industrial estate in Splott, Cardiff, between August 2022 and February 2024. The venue was outfitted with six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, seating areas, and stocked fridges.
Warrants were executed at the unit and linked residential addresses in February 2024. Both men admitted to possessing and transferring criminal property, violating the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
According to Tarian ROCU Detective Constable Charles Lan, the operation was promoted to individuals involved in serious criminality, including drug dealers and organized crime groups.
What this means for players
The Gambling Commission and police highlighted the difference between regulated and unregulated venues. According to the notice, the Cardiff den operated with no player safeguards in place. Participants lacked protections designed to identify vulnerable people or support those experiencing gambling addiction, and some players became indebted to the organizers.
A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to address the financial proceeds of the operation is scheduled for 9 April 2027.
