A former aide to Rishi Sunak has pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling following his role in the ‘Gamblegate’ scandal in which he bet on the date of the 2024 general election.
At a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Monday 29 June, Craig Williams admitted using confidential information to place bets on the timing of the the public going to the polls.
Prosecutors said Williams had bet £250, £100 and £22.50 on the election date. The election, in which Labour swept to power, was held on 4 July 2024.
Williams, the ex-Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire and for Cardiff North, was serving as then-Prime Minister Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary.
When the story broke in 2024, Williams said he had made a “huge error of judgement” in placing the wager.
Williams, who became Sunak’s aide in October 2022, was privy to conversations surrounding the general election at both 10 Downing Street and Conservative Campaign HQ.
Three further cheating charges levied against him are set to be dropped when he is sentenced.
Williams was one of 15 people charged with cheating related to betting on the general election.
Also appearing at Southwark Crown Court was Amy Hind, the wife of Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind.
She also pleaded guilty to cheating on the date of the election. A separate charge against Mr Hind was dropped by prosecutors.
Williams and Hind will be sentenced Southwark Crown Court at a later date to be set by the court.
A Gambling Commission statement read: “Today, Monday 29 June 2026, Craig Williams and Amy Hind have pleaded guilty to offences of cheating, contrary to section 42(1)(a) of the Gambling Act 2005.
“This was not a market to be abused by those with inside information as to when the election would be held. These two defendants placed bets themselves.
“In doing so, they cheated. They did so by using confidential and sensitive information about the date of the 2024 general election in order to profit.”
As per the Gambling Act 2005, breaches of section 42(1)(a) can result in a two-year prison sentence, an unlimited fine or both.
The trials for the remaining defendants are due to take place in September 2027 and January 2028.
EGR has contacted the Convservative Party for comment.
The post Former Tory MP pleads guilty as part of ‘Gamblegate’ investigation first appeared on EGR Intel.
Craig Williams admits cheating at gambling when betting on the date of the 2024 general election after being privy to confidential information
The post Former Tory MP pleads guilty as part of ‘Gamblegate’ investigation first appeared on EGR Intel.