Gamblers were left bemused when police officers stormed a “casino-style” poker club in Kingston this week.

Officers turned up unannounced at the Pool Bar in Cambridge Road in Kingston on Tuesday night, following reports of illegal gambling in the premises.

The bar, which runs as a members club for six days a week near the Cambridge Road estate, had four tables in play with chips stacked up for up to a £3,000 jackpot on the night.

The club, inside a spacious room with gaming machines, has a premises certificate for some gambling, but it must not be its main activity.

Sergeant Eddie Armstrong, from Kingston police, said: “There are no casino licences in Kingston.

“For them to do what they are doing they would need a casino-style certificate.

"We are working with Kingston’s licensing team to examine evidence of an illegal poker club running out of the Pool Bar with a view of revoking its certificate or bringing a prosecution.”

Players had each paid £45 to play a hand on the night, with dealer bonuses that should not have been allowed also on the cards.

One gamer, who did not want to be named, said she enjoyed coming to the poker tournaments at the bar and had found out about the club through word-of-mouth.

Pool tables at the pool bar also looked as if they had not been used for some time.

Clive Noblett, regional compliance manager from the Gambling Commission, said: “It is unregulated gaming. Kingston residents probably do not want to travel out to central London so they can enjoy a game of poker, but this is an unsafe environment for them.”

Officers found dealers, bar staff and the receptionist had all been paid cash-in-hand on the night.

No arrests were made, but Kingston police are continuing investigation.