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(AsiaGameHub) – Two individuals were taken into custody last week following a joint raid on a suspected unlicensed gambling establishment located on Chester Road in central Manchester.
The operation, which took place on 28 May, was executed by officers from Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester division, working in conjunction with the Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council’s licensing department.
A woman aged 66 and a man aged 33 were arrested on suspicion of violating the Gambling Act 2005 and the Licensing Act 2003.
According to police, officers discovered gaming tables, chips, financial records, ledger books, alcohol, and other related items on site. Mobile phones and cash were also confiscated, and expert investigators from the police force’s Financial Crime and Money Laundering units are assisting with the ongoing probe.
“Unlicensed gambling can lead to numerous problems, ranging from cash disagreements to money laundering, making it crucial that we close these venues down whenever they are discovered,” commented PC Nial Vivian regarding the raid.
Greater Manchester Police and its partner agencies stated that the raid was carried out as part of a collaborative enforcement effort.
“Addressing every type of illegal gambling remains a key priority for the Commission, which is why we were eager to collaborate with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council on this joint initiative,” Sue Young, the Gambling Commission’s executive director of operations, said in a statement.
Raid highlights growing crackdown on unlicensed gambling
This joint action took place just weeks after the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) established a specialized illegal gambling taskforce to address rising anxieties regarding the extent of unlicensed operations across the country.
The raid is also aligned with broader regulatory initiatives aimed at detecting and shutting down illicit gambling setups. The Gambling Commission has reiterated that combating unlicensed operations remains a top priority.
Furthermore, the regulatory body has received £24.5 million in government funding to strengthen its enforcement actions against illegal gambling, including underground brick-and-mortar venues.
Crackdowns have intensified in recent years due to mounting concerns over the proliferation of unregulated “pop-up” gambling sites and private gaming clubs.
Local licensing bodies are essential in upholding venue standards and verifying that operators possess the necessary authorizations under the Gambling Act 2005, which mandates licensing and establishes guidelines for consumer safety, crime prevention, and fair gaming practices.
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