Greater Manchester Police executed a coordinated raid on an alleged unlicensed gambling venue on Chester Road in Manchester city centre last week.
Officers from the Greater Manchester Police City of Manchester team carried out the operation on 28 May alongside the Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council’s licensing team.
A 33-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Gambling Act 2005 and the Licensing Act 2003.
Police found gambling tables, chips, records, account books, alcohol and other materials at the premises during the operation.
Cash and mobile phones were seized, with specialist investigators from the force’s Financial Crime and Money Laundering teams now supporting the ongoing inquiry.
PC Nial Vivian commented on the significance of the action, stating: “Illegal gambling can cause many issues – from disputes about cash to money laundering – and it is important that we shut them down whenever we come across them.”
Gambling Commission Executive Director of Operations Sue Young confirmed the regulator’s commitment, saying: “Tackling all forms of illegal gambling is a focus for the Commission so we were keen to work in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council on this operation.”
The raid forms part of broader enforcement activity following the UK government’s DCMS launching a dedicated illegal gambling taskforce in response to growing concerns about unlicensed operations nationwide.
The Gambling Commission has been allocated £24.5 million in government funding specifically to bolster enforcement against illegal gambling, including underground land-based venues.
Enforcement activity has intensified in recent years amid rising concerns about unregulated pop-up gambling operations and private gaming clubs operating outside legal frameworks.
Local licensing authorities continue to play a central role in upholding premises standards and ensuring operators hold appropriate permissions under the Gambling Act 2005.
The legislation requires licences and sets standards covering consumer protection, crime prevention and fair play across all regulated gambling environments.
