The UK allows betting and chance activities to some extent. For instance, betting on elections is legal and anyone can partake. Chance events like raffles are also legal, with platforms like realraffle making raffling easy and decentralizing access to prizes by lowering the minimum amounts required to participate. However, some rules may apply, including requiring certain declarations for the purpose of transparency.
But in this case, the gambling activity was betting on a topic, and the crime was betting based on insider information. One of the popular topics of speculation at the time was the perceived date the prime minister would fix the general elections, and the ex-aide to the then prime minister was one of the many people who placed a wager on it.
Williams has already confessed to the charges in a social media post, acknowledging that he made a grave error of judgment after placing a £100 bet on the timing of the election. He has been suspended by the Conservative Party. In the outcome of the elections, he lost his office, finishing third in the election. While there is yet to be a final verdict on the matter, Williams and the remaining offenders could face up to 2 years in prison.
While gambling is legal in the UK, under Section 42 of the UK’s Gambling Act 2005, it is illegal to cheat at gambling or help someone else do so. Cheating in this sense can involve using inside information to gain an unfair advantage. Williams had already confessed to using insider information to gauge his bet on the time of the upcoming election. The law doesn’t state if the person actually needs to win or improve their chances; it does, however, clarify that the act of cheating itself is the offence and if found guilty, individuals can face up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.
Several members of the Conservative Party have been implicated by the investigations. They include Anthony Lee, who served as the Conservative Party’s campaign director and his wife, Laura Saunders, who ran as a Tory candidate in the British North West, although unsuccessful in her attempt. The Party’s former chief data officer, Nick Mason, has also been charged with gambling offences. It is recorded that he left his role at the party after the election. Simon Chatfield, Anthony and Amy Hind, James Ward, Ian Makepeace, Thomas James, Jacob Willmer and Charlotte Lang are among the 15 charged with betting charges. Their records showed that they were all connected to the party before and during the general elections.
Another notable member of the party connected to the case is Russell George, who is a serving Conservative member in the Welsh Parliament. Following the announcement of the charges, Darren Miller, leader of the Welsh Tories, made it known that George was suspended from the Welsh Senedd. He also stated that the suspension serves as a neutral act while they await the final outcome of the justice process.