UKGC and Manchester partners raid four city-centre premises: four arrested, more than £20,000 seized

Greater Manchester Police, with the Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council's Licensing Team, raided four premises in Manchester city centre on Monday night, 21 September 2026. Four people were arrested on suspicion of offences. Officers recovered more than £20,000 in cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act, plus mobile phones, gambling tables, records and account books.

The Commission published the operation on 23 September. No licensed casino, no street address and no court result is named.

What was seized, and who was arrested

The cash was recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Manchester Evening News reports that the police say it is believed to have been laundered. That is a police belief at this stage, not a court finding.

The Commission's arrest list is:

• two women, on suspicion of immigration offences
• one man, on suspicion of running a late-night takeaway without a licence
• one man, on suspicion of money laundering and breaching the Gambling Act

Manchester Evening News adds that the man arrested on suspicion of money laundering and breaching the Gambling Act is alleged to have provided facilities for gambling without authority, that the two women were placed on immigration bail, and that the two men were bailed with strict conditions pending further enquiries. Nobody has been convicted. The raids followed a similar operation in May, according to the Evening News, which said police later used intelligence from phones seized then.

Why the Commission says it matters

Sue Young, the Commission's Executive Director of Operations, said: "Unlicensed operators often have links to wider criminal activity, exploit vulnerable people and undermine legitimate regulated businesses. And that is why we are always keen to work in partnership with the police to crack down on illegal operations."

PC Nial Vivian, of the Manchester City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the work "specifically targets reports of illegal gambling and premises operating without the appropriate licences", and that four simultaneous warrants were executed.

This is a land-based enforcement story in Great Britain. It is not an action against an online casino, and it does not name any licensed operator. 18+. If gambling stops being fun, see responsible play. For other recent Commission actions, see the Tom Horn Gaming licence suspension and the Targetlocal remote-licence suspension.