Three people were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 23 October 2026 after pleading guilty to cheating over bets on the date of the 2024 General Election. Each received a 12-month ban from using online gambling applications.

The Gambling Commission said the defendants admitted offences under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005. The court’s orders apply to these defendants. They do not create a new gambling rule for operators or players.

The three defendants received suspended sentences, unpaid work and year-long app bans. The wider investigation is still before the courts.

The sentences and restrictions

  • Anthony Lee received two concurrent prison terms of 10 months and two weeks, suspended for 12 months. He must complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
  • Laura Lee received a prison term of four months and two weeks, suspended for 12 months. She must complete 40 hours of unpaid work.
  • Amy Hind received a six-month prison term, suspended for 12 months. She must complete 50 hours of unpaid work.

All three also received 12-month probation requirements and the 12-month ban on using online gambling applications.

What the case says about election betting

Before the election date was announced, betting operators offered markets on when the vote would take place. The Gambling Commission said Anthony Lee used confidential information from discussions about the election timetable to place bets and passed information to his wife, who also bet. Hind placed bets after receiving confidential information, the Commission said.

The convictions are against these three defendants, who pleaded guilty. They are not findings against others in the wider investigation. The Commission said 10 other defendants remain charged and are due to stand trial in September 2027 and January 2028. Craig Williams has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentence.

The election date was announced on 22 May 2024, according to the Commission’s case summary. The Commission published its sentencing notice on 23 October 2026. Sky News also reported on the sentencing.