Two detained following raid on suspected illegal gambling den in Manchester

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Gambling Commission collaborated with law enforcement and Manchester City Council’s licensing division.

UK.- The British Gambling Commission and Greater Manchester Police have revealed that two individuals were taken into custody after a raid on a suspected unlicensed gambling establishment in Manchester’s city center. Law enforcement officers and regulatory officials from the gambling authority were accompanied by members of Manchester City Council’s licensing team to carry out a joint operation at a location on Chester Road.

The raid took place on May 28. According to the Gambling Commission, the site contained gambling tables, chips, records, account books, alcohol, and other related items. Cash and mobile phones were also confiscated. The operation was prompted by reports of unlawful gambling activities and a venue operating without the necessary licenses from the Gambling Commission.

A 33-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were detained on suspicion of violating the Gambling Act 2005 and the Licensing Act 2003, and remained in custody for interrogation at the time of the report. Greater Manchester Police stated that specialist teams from its Financial Crime Unit and Money Laundering divisions were assisting with the ongoing probe.

Sue Young, Executive Director of Operations at the Gambling Commission, commented: “Combating all types of illegal gambling is a priority for the Commission, which is why we were eager to partner with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council on this operation.”

PC Nial Vivian stated: “All businesses must comply with established laws, which is why we took action in the city center yesterday. Illegal gambling can lead to numerous problems—from cash disputes to money laundering—and it’s crucial that we close such operations whenever we find them.

“We’ve collaborated closely with our partners at both the Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council.”

The Gambling Commission recently announced it is boosting its enforcement capacity to address illegal land-based gambling, following a £26 million additional government grant over the next three years. At the Bingo Association’s annual general meeting last month, the regulator’s acting chief executive Sarah Gardner noted that this new focus will involve greater collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

The regulator has also warned it plans to crack down on illegal lotteries in the UK. It aims to map the overall dynamics of the black market and develop Britain’s first national risk assessment for the illegal gambling market, in partnership with the government’s new Illegal Gambling Taskforce.

The Gambling Commission recently posted a job vacancy for a Head of Illegal Markets—a new role tasked with leading investigations and enforcement actions against unlicensed operators. The successful candidate will work within the Operations Directorate, with a mandate to coordinate resources across Enforcement and Intelligence, while collaborating with the Illegal Markets team, Sports Betting Integrity Unit, and departments handling Legal, Policy, Strategy, and Communications.