Defendant who ran illegal poker den ordered to pay £50k

The first man in the UK to be jailed for money laundering in connection with the running of an illegal poker den has been ordered to pay £50,000.

Ahmet Melin, 35, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was prosecuted by the London Borough of Enfield after enforcement officers found that the Big Bluff Private Members Club in Green Lanes, Palmers Green, was a front for an illegal poker club, and not a non-profit making private members club in line with its club gaming permit.

Enfield Council’s policy is not to issue casino licences to properties in the borough.

In April last year Melin was found guilty of five offences of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. He had denied culpability.

At a hearing this week (27 July) Wood Green Crown Court ruled that Melin had made in excess of £400,000 through running the illegal poker club.

The judge ordered that he should forfeit his current assets of around £50,000.

Cllr Daniel Anderson, Enfield’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Enfield Council took swift and decisive action when we found out the Big Bluff Private Members Club was a front for an illegal poker den.

“I’m pleased that because of Enfield Council’s tenacity the court has ordered this individual to forfeit £50,000 of this criminally obtained money and we will, of course, seek to recover more if we discover Melin has further assets, which have been concealed from the court.

”We will not tolerate illegal behaviour in Enfield and will continue to take firm action against anyone stupid enough to break the law. This decision clearly shows that crime does not pay, and where people seek to make a profit from illegal activities we will always seek to recover that cash so the people involved do not profit from it.”

Nick Tofiluk, the Commission’s Director of Regulatory Operations said: "This is an excellent example of how a local authority with Gambling Commission support is dealing with illegal gambling in whatever guise it is presented. The message is simple - if you offer poker in a club and are breaking the law, action can and will be taken."