Two Charged Over Manchester Illegal Gambling Den

By Daniel Smyth

Greater Manchester Police have charged two people over a suspected illegal gambling den in Manchester city centre, following a joint raid with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Manchester City Council on 28 May.

Raid on Manchester City Centre Premises

Officers from GMP's City of Manchester division raided premises on Chester Road and arrested a 33-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman on suspicion of offences under the Gambling Act 2005 and the Licensing Act 2003. Gaming tables, chips, account books, cash, alcohol, and mobile phones were seized. The pair have since been charged and bailed to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on 29 September 2026.

For you, as a UK player, the operation is a reminder that the UKGC isn't only chasing illegal offshore sites. 

Sue Young, the regulator's Executive Director of Operations, said the Commission was keen to work in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council on this operation'.

PC Nial Vivian added: 

'It is important that all businesses adhere to the laws… illegal gambling can cause many issues, from disputes about cash to money laundering.'

Illegal Gambling Taskforce Drives Enforcement Push

The arrests come as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) ramps up enforcement through its Illegal Gambling Taskforce, launched in January 2026. Its terms of reference, published on gov.uk in May, set out three priorities: cutting payments to illegal operators, tackling online advertising of illegal gambling, and improving cross-agency enforcement. The task force runs for 12 months before review.

While most of the UKGC's recent attention has gone on blocking offshore URLs and recruiting a Head of Illegal Markets, the Manchester raid shows the land-based market is still on the radar.