Four arrested and £20,000 seized in Manchester illegal gambling raids

What happened

Officers from Greater Manchester Police executed four warrants at the same time in Manchester city centre on the night of Monday 21 September 2026. The Gambling Commission and Manchester City Council’s licensing team supported the operation.

Police seized mobile phones, gambling tables, records and account books. More than £20,000 in cash, believed to have been laundered, was recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The arrests

Four people were arrested. One man was held on suspicion of money laundering and of providing facilities for gambling without a licence under the Gambling Act. A second man was arrested on suspicion of running a late-night takeaway without a licence, and two women on suspicion of immigration offences.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the two men were bailed pending further enquiries and the two women were placed on immigration bail. The raids followed an earlier operation in May.

What the regulator said

Sue Young, the Gambling Commission’s Executive Director of Operations, said unlicensed operators often have links to wider criminal activity, exploit vulnerable people and undermine legitimate regulated businesses.

Why it matters to players

Unlicensed gambling — in person or online — offers none of the protections that come with a Gambling Commission licence, such as identity checks, safer-gambling tools and a formal complaints route. Before using any gambling business, check its name and website on the Commission’s public register.

Sources

Official support services