Craig Williams and Amy Hind plead guilty in election betting scandal

Two defendants of the ongoing election betting scandal pleaded guilty to offences of cheating on Monday, the Gambling Commission has reported.

The investigation, which charged 15 people for using insider information to bet on the date of the general election in May 2024, was initiated by the Gambling Commission.

Craig Williams, former Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has pleaded guilty alongside Amy Hind, the wife of the Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind.

Williams, who was also the MP for Montgomeryshire between December 2019 to May 2024, and Hind pleaded guilty to the offences of cheating, contrary to section 42(1)(a) of the Gambling Act 2005.

The two placed bets on the date of the 2024 General Election in May 2024, right before then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a July date. Williams reportedly placed a £100 ($128) bet on a July election date via the Ladbrokes betting app.

This was flagged by the operator, as Williams was recorded as a politically exposed person (PEP). Operators are required to carry out enhanced due diligence on any PEP before they allow them to gamble. This may then result in placing certain limits on their accounts.

Both Hind and Williams could face either a fine or imprisonment of up to two years.

Guilty parties had access to sensitive and confidential information

Commenting on the charges, the Gambling Commission said the guilty parties had had access to sensitive and confidential information.

“As a result of his privileged position Craig Williams attended various meetings with the Prime Minister and senior staff at Conservative Central Headquarters during which the date of the General Election was discussed. This was highly sensitive and confidential information but instead of keeping it secret Craig Williams sought to profit from it,” the regulator said.

Hind, meanwhile, was working for the NHS as business support manager at the time. But her husband, who also faces cheating charges, was working for the Conservative Party at the time.

The commission said Hind placed bets on the 2024 General Election with the benefit of confidential information passed to her about when that election would be called.

Williams and Hind will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a later date set by the court.

The 12 others charged in the initial investigation will be tried in September 2027 and January 2028.

These include:

• Simon Chatfield, 51, (DOB: 19/03/1974), Lower Bourne, Farnham, GU10 
• Russell George, 50, (DOB: 27/04/1974), Newtown, Wales, SY16 
• Anthony Hind, 36, (DOB: 12/09/1988), Loughton, Essex, IG10 
• Jeremy Hunt, 55, (DOB: 08/04/1970), Horne, Horley, RH6, (former Police Officer) 
• Thomas James, 38, (DOB: 15/09/1986), Brecon, Wales, LD3 
• Charlotte Lang, 36, (DOB: 15/02/1989), Brixton, SW9 
• Anthony Lee, 47, (DOB: 24/04/1977), Bristol, BS1 
• Iain Makepeace, 47, (DOB: 15/08/1977), Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE16 
• Nick Mason, 51, (DOB: 03/10/1973), Milton on Stour, Gillingham, SP8 
• Paul Place, 53, (DOB: 11/05/1971), Hammersmith, London, W6 
• James Ward, 40, (DOB: 12/08/1984), London, E11 
• Jacob Willmer, 39, (DOB: 06/07/1985), Richmond, London, TW9 

Nicole Macedo

Nicole cut her teeth in local news rooms at home in Gibraltar, and helped to establish the peninsula’s first online-only broadcaster.