Anthony Lee, the Conservative Party's Head of Campaigning during the 2024 UK general election, and his wife Laura Lee have pleaded guilty to offences under the Gambling Act 2005. They placed bets on the election date using insider information.
Anthony held the role of director of campaigning at Conservative headquarters and took part in closed discussions on the election timing. Instead of keeping that information confidential, he used it to place bets and shared it with his wife. Laura at the time led the party's international operations and was standing as a candidate in Bristol North West.
Anthony placed over 60 bets totalling £1,549 with potential winnings of around £15,000. Laura wagered £535 across eight bets, aiming for approximately £5,000 in returns. The Gambling Commission confirmed the guilty pleas and set sentencing for 23 October 2026 at Southwark Crown Court. Amy Hind, a former party staffer, will be sentenced alongside the couple.
The case forms part of a wider investigation: the commission has charged 13 people in the scheme. They include former MP Craig Williams and several other Conservative officials. UK bookmakers accepted heavy action on the election date ahead of the July 2024 vote, creating conditions for abuse.
The affair has revived debate over political betting markets. Election wagers remain popular in Britain — recent by-elections in Makerfield and Clacton broke turnover records at Betfair. A similar insider-trading problem on prediction markets is now under scrutiny from US regulators.
