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Three people receive suspended sentences for illegal bets on the 2024 General Election date

Three individuals connected to the Conservative Party received suspended prison sentences for placing bets using confidential election information.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 24 October 2026

Three people linked to the Conservative Party received suspended prison sentences at Southwark Crown Court on 23 October 2026. The Gambling Commission brought the prosecution under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005. All three defendants had previously entered guilty pleas for cheating over bets placed on the date of the 2024 General Election.

Anthony Lee served as the party Director of Campaigning and received ten months and two weeks in prison on each count. His sentences run concurrently and are suspended for 12 months with 100 hours of unpaid work. His wife Laura Lee worked as the Head of International and received four months and two weeks suspended for 12 months with 40 hours of unpaid work. Both must pay 1,000 pounds towards prosecution costs.

Court orders and bans

Amy Hind worked as a former Conservative Party employee and received a six month sentence suspended for 12 months alongside 50 hours of unpaid work. The court placed identical conditions on all three defendants including a 12 month probation requirement. They also received a 12 month ban on using online gambling applications as part of their criminal sentences.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date on 22 May 2024. The Gambling Commission stated that the defendants placed bets after obtaining confidential information about when the election would be called. Anthony Lee passed that information directly to his wife before the public announcement.

Regulator views market integrity

Katharine Diamond serves as General Counsel at the Gambling Commission and described the case as a significant first of its kind. She stated that betting markets must remain fair and cannot be undermined by people using confidential information. The regulator plans to continue investigating suspected criminal activity to protect gambling integrity.

More legal proceedings remain active regarding the same betting markets. Former Member of Parliament Craig Williams pleaded guilty in June and awaits sentencing at a later date. Ten additional people face charges for cheating offences and stand trial across September 2027 and January 2028.