Gambling and betting sites are no strangers to the world of Westminster, but rarely is it the gambling habits of the parliamentary members under fire. That all changed when, yesterday, April 14th, fifteen people with links to the Conservative party were charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005. This followed an investigation into alleged cheating on bets around the 2024 General Election date.
High Stakes at Westminster
Among those charged was former Conservative MP Craig Williams, who previously served as private secretary to Rishi Sunak. The allegations centre around bets placed on the timing of the 2024 UK general election, wagers seemingly made with the advantage of inside information, specifically the then-unannounced date of the July poll. Also facing charges are former Tory marketing chief Simon Chatfield, ex-data officer Nick Mason, one-time campaigns director Anthony Lee, and MP candidate Laura Saunders. Welsh Tory parliamentarian Russell George, former special advisor Jacob Willmer, and ex-police officer Jeremy Hunt are also indicted. If convicted, each could face up to two years in prison as well as a fine.
Dumb Luck? (Or Lack Thereof)
While the exact amounts wagered and won by Mr. Williams haven’t been officially disclosed, reports suggest he placed a £100 bet on his Ladbrokes account with odds of potentially winning a modest sum of around £500. However, this seemingly small gain now carries the weight of significant potential consequences.
Speaking on the incident, the UKGC has stated: “The Commission, as the independent regulator of gambling in Great Britain, is committed to protecting consumers and the public, ensuring confidence in the industry, and upholding high standards among licensees.
Under Sections 27 and 28 of the Gambling Act, the Commission has the authority to investigate offences and bring criminal prosecutions where appropriate.
The Commission is committed to upholding the law and will continue to take robust action against illegal betting practices, including investigating and prosecuting offences.”
The fifteen charged will now face court on the rather unfortunate date of Friday the 13th of June 2025.
