Gambling Commission charges 15 individuals over general election betting scandal
Tory parliamentary candidates, including former aide to ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accused of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005
The Gambling Commission has charged 15 people, including several Conservative politicians, following its investigation into alleged cheating around bets placed on the timing of last year’s general election.
The investigation, which started in June 2024, focused on individuals who were privy to confidential information to “gain an unfair advantage in betting markets”, as per the regulator.
Using confidential information related to the proposed election date, which was eventually held on 4 July, constitutes a criminal offence under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005.
Under sections 27 and 28 of the Act, the regulator was authorised to investigate the alleged breaches and bring forth charges.
In what was dubbed ‘Gamblegate’, the scandal came to light with a small number of Conservative parliamentary candidates having placed bets on the date of the general election.
Craig Williams was the first to be exposed after admitting to having a “flutter” on the date of the election.
Willaims, at the time, was former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, making him one of Sunak’s closest aides.
Williams has been named as one of the 15 individuals charged, along with fellow parliamentary candidate Laura Saunders.
Saunders’ husband and the Tories’ director of campaigning, Tony Lee, has also been charged.
The Tories’ former chief marketing officer, Simon Chatfield, is another of the other most well-known figures to be charged. He left his role with the party in December.
So far, other conservatives named by the regulator as having been charged are former chief data officer Nick Mason and Welsh Parliament member Russell George.
EGR is in the process of verifying the identities of the other 10 individuals to have been charged by the Gambling Commission.
A statement from the Gambling Commission read: “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 Gambling Commission cannot provide further details on ongoing criminal cases.”
All 15 individuals are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court at 10am on 13 June 2025.
The charges by the Gambling Commission announced today, 14 April, are independent of the now-closed Metropolitan Police investigation into the matter, which ended in August 2024 without charges being brought.