Eight people were arrested and almost £9,000 in cash seized after the Gambling Commission, Immigration Enforcement, South Yorkshire Police and City of Doncaster Council raided two unlicensed gambling venues in Doncaster city centre as part of Operation Snaresbrook.
Officers searching the premises recovered poker tables, slot machines and account books. One person was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Gambling Act 2005, while the remaining seven arrests related to alleged immigration offences, according to the Gambling Commission.
When asked about the date of the operation and the locations of the raided premises, a City of Doncaster Council spokesperson declined to comment because of ongoing investigations, according to the BBC.
Multi-Agency Enforcement Under the Gambling Act
The operation was a joint effort to disrupt unlicensed gambling. Authorities warned that such venues can be connected to other serious criminal activity, including organised crime, money laundering and human trafficking.
Unlicensed venues operate outside safeguards imposed by the Gambling Commission. These safeguards include protections relating to fair play, age verification, safer gambling and the handling of customers’ money.
Councillor Gemma Cobby, City of Doncaster Council’s cabinet member for regulation and enforcement, planning and safer communities, said illegal gambling can undermine confidence in legitimate local businesses. She said illicit gambling dens are often associated with organised criminal groups and can be used to launder money. Cobby encouraged the public to report concerns about businesses operating in Doncaster and said the council investigates every report it receives.
Doncaster Central Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector Lisa Bird said businesses must comply with UK gambling laws. She said criminal activity associated with illegal gambling threatens the safety and security of Doncaster city centre, and that police will continue gathering intelligence on people suspected of links to illegal gambling while working with partner agencies to target those involved.
Immigration Enforcement Assistant Director for Yorkshire Tim Gallacher described the raids as a successful operation and highlighted cooperation between the enforcement bodies involved. Sue Young, executive director of operations at the Gambling Commission, said the regulator continues to seek opportunities to work with police forces and other agencies to tackle illegal gambling.
Part of Doncaster’s Safer City Initiative
The raids also support Doncaster’s wider Safer City initiative. Through the programme, the council and South Yorkshire Police are working together to address crime and antisocial behaviour, increase visible enforcement activity in the city centre and invest in resources intended to help residents and visitors feel safer.
Source: Casino.com
Petra Vanhoof has spent the better part of a decade following the shifting tides of gambling regulation across Europe and beyond. She came up through the compliance side of the industry before pivoting to writing, which gives her a grounded, no-nonsense perspective on the rules, loopholes, and political maneuvering that shape how operators actually do business. She is particularly drawn to the gap between what regulators say and what the market ends up doing in response.