Three people who bet on the timing of the 2024 General Election have received suspended prison sentences at Southwark Crown Court, in the first case of its kind brought by the Gambling Commission.
Anthony Lee, Laura Lee and Amy Hind were sentenced on 23 October 2026, having earlier pleaded guilty to cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005.
The sentences
| Defendant | Custodial sentence | Unpaid work | Prosecution costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Lee | 10 months and 2 weeks on each count, concurrent, suspended for 12 months | 100 hours | £1,000 |
| Laura Lee | 4 months and 2 weeks, suspended for 12 months | 40 hours | £1,000 |
| Amy Hind | 6 months, suspended for 12 months | 50 hours | No order made |
The unpaid work must be completed within 12 months. All three are also under a probation requirement for 12 months and a prohibited activity requirement that bars them from using online gambling applications for the same period.
What the court heard
Then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date on 22 May 2024. Before that, according to the Commission’s account of the hearing, there had been significant planning for a 4 July poll, including discussions at 10 Downing Street and among staff at Conservative Campaign Headquarters. During that period, gambling operators were running markets on when the election would take place.
- Anthony Lee was the Conservative Party’s Director of Campaigning. His role gave him access to confidential discussions about the election’s timing; he bet on that information and passed it to his wife.
- Laura Lee was the party’s Head of International and stood as a Conservative candidate at the election. She placed bets on the date using the confidential information from her husband.
- Amy Hind had previously worked for the Conservative Party and was employed by the NHS at the time. She bet after receiving confidential information about when the election would be called.
Commission’s response
“This is a significant case and a first of its kind for the Commission, demonstrating our commitment to protecting the integrity of betting markets.
“Betting markets must be fair and must not be undermined by people using confidential information for their own benefit.”
— Katharine Diamond, General Counsel, Gambling Commission
“These convictions demonstrate the importance of protecting the integrity of gambling markets and acting where there is evidence that individuals have sought to cheat.
“We will continue to investigate suspected criminal activity and use our powers to protect the integrity of gambling.”
— Katharine Diamond, General Counsel, Gambling Commission
Other cases still to be heard
Craig Williams has already pleaded guilty to a cheating offence relating to bets on the date of the same election and will be sentenced later.
Ten further people are charged with cheating offences linked to bets on the election date. They are due to stand trial in September 2027 and January 2028.
Source: Gambling Commission announcement.
