On Thursday, the UK Gambling Commission announced that two former senior members of the Conservative Party had admitted guilt to offenses related to betting on the date of the 2024 General Election.
Anthony Lee, who held the position of director of campaigning within the Conservative Party, pleaded guilty to two counts of cheating under sections 42(1)(a) and 42(1)(b) of the Gambling Act 2005. His wife, Laura Lee (formerly known as Saunders), who was the party's head of international and stood as the Conservative candidate for Bristol North-West in the 2024 election, pleaded guilty to one offense under section 42(1)(a).
They join Amy Hind and Craig Williams, who pleaded guilty to similar offenses on June 29, 2026. The sentencing for Anthony Lee, Laura Lee, and Hind is scheduled for October 23, 2026, at Southwark Crown Court, while Williams will face sentencing at a later time. The Gambling Commission has indicated that trials for the remaining ten defendants are set to take place in September 2027 and January 2028.
The investigation began in June 2024 after Ladbrokes reported a bet made by Williams, identified as a politically exposed person. Further bets implicated other figures with political significance, including Metropolitan Police officers. Overall, 15 people were charged by the Commission in April 2025, with four having entered guilty pleas so far.
These offenses were connected to specific betting markets that allowed wagers on the precise date of the general election. On May 22, 2024, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the election would be held on July 4, 2024. However, planning for the date had already commenced at prominent Conservative Party offices prior to the announcement.
Anthony Lee's high-ranking role in campaigning provided him access to sensitive discussions concerning the timing of the election. Instead of maintaining confidentiality, he placed bets using his knowledge and subsequently informed his wife, who then used this insider information for her own wagers.
While UK operators implement enhanced checks on politically exposed persons (PEPs), Bethan Lloyd, a partner at Wiggin law firm, highlighted the limitations of these safeguards. She noted that having PEP status does not prevent individuals from gambling. Lloyd explained that while PEPs can participate in betting, they should not use inside information to gain an advantage.
She mentioned that a lower-ranking member of Parliament or a parliamentary aide might not qualify as a PEP, but verifying every customer's occupation would unduly burden operators.
