Two More Former Conservative Officials Plead Guilty in UK Election Date Betting Case

The UK Gambling Commission has reported that two senior figures formerly associated with the Conservative Party pleaded guilty to offences linked to betting on the date of the 2024 General Election. Anthony Lee, who served as the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning, admitted two counts of cheating under sections 42(1)(a) and 42(1)(b) of the Gambling Act 2005. His wife, Laura Lee (formerly Saunders), the party’s former head of international and 2024 candidate for Bristol North-West, pleaded guilty to one count under section 42(1)(a).

The Lees join Amy Hind and Craig Williams, who pleaded guilty on 29 June 2026. Sentencing for the Lees and Hind is set for 23 October 2026 at Southwark Crown Court. Williams will be sentenced later. Trials for the remaining ten defendants are scheduled for September 2027 and January 2028. Fifteen people were charged in April 2025. Four have now pleaded guilty, according to reporting by iGaming Business.

How the Election Betting Scheme Unfolded

The Commission launched its investigation in June 2024 after Ladbrokes flagged a bet by Williams, recorded as a politically exposed person. Further bets from other politically sensitive individuals, including Metropolitan Police officers and political advisers, triggered additional scrutiny. The offences centre on special betting markets allowing wagers on the exact date of the general election.

Then-prime minister Rishi Sunak announced 4 July 2024 as the election date on 22 May 2024. Internal planning for that date had already begun at 10 Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters. Lee’s senior role gave him access to those confidential discussions. He placed bets and passed the information to his wife, who placed her own bets.

Limits of PEP Safeguards

This matter exposes the boundaries of existing controls on politically exposed persons. Bethan Lloyd, partner at law firm Wiggin, told iGaming Business: “PEP status does not prevent someone from gambling.” Lloyd explained that PEPs are entitled to bet but not on events where inside information gives them an unfair advantage. A low-ranking MP or parliamentary aide is unlikely to meet the PEP threshold, and it would place an onerous burden on operators to verify every customer’s occupation.

The convictions confirm enforcement against misuse of non-public information. Yet they also signal that operators must look beyond status checks to spot irregular patterns on politically sensitive markets. With multiple trials ahead, closer attention to these controls is inevitable.

Reporting: iGaming Business (iGB)

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