Two Arrested in Bristol Illegal Casino Investigation

Two people have been arrested and subsequently released on bail following an investigation into an alleged illegal casino in Bristol.

A 36-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were taken into custody on suspicion of gambling offences after authorities carried out a search warrant at an address near the city’s Brandon Hill park, reports iGaming Business.

Both individuals have been released on bail, though enquiries are still ongoing. The arrests come as part of a joint operation conducted by the Gambling Commission, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Harbourside Neighbourhood Policing Team.

“Community intelligence plays a vital role in tackling criminal activity and keeping our neighbourhoods safe,” said Sergeant Michael Friis of the Harbourside Neighbourhood Policing Team.

“We encourage anyone who has concerns about suspicious or illegal activity in their area to continue reporting it to the police,” he added.

The arrests are the latest in a list of several recent initiatives to combat illegal gambling. Back in early June, a similar operation in Manchester ended in the detention of two individuals on suspicion of offences under the Gambling Act 2005 and the Licensing Act 2003.

At the time, Gambling Commission executive director of operations Sue Young said that “tackling all forms of illegal gambling is a focus for the Commission”, while the government has allocated £26m to the Gambling Commission over the next three years to help their efforts.