UK Gambling Commission Charges Former Lawmakers with Illegal Betting on Election Date

^{Pictured: Craig Williams and Laura Saunders}

The UK Gambling Commission has brought charges against a group of former lawmakers over illegal wagers tied to insider knowledge of the upcoming national election, according to a statement published on the regulator’s website.

The charges follow an investigation launched in June 2024, which concluded with 15 British citizens accused of placing bets on the yet-to-be-announced date of the general election. Regulators allege they used privileged information to exploit the betting markets.

Among those named are former Conservative MP Craig Williams of Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, and Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West.

If someone uses confidential information — “specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date – to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets. Such actions constitute an offence of cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, a criminal offence,” a Commission spokesperson said in a statement.

The court hearing is scheduled for June 13, 2025.