By Ben Kerrigan-
A former Labour parliamentary candidate who was suspended from the party after placing an £800 bet on his own defeat has launched a campaign demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the Gambling Commission, accusing the regulator of undermining democracy, mishandling its investigation and damaging his chances of winning a seat at the 2024 general election.
Kevin Craig, founder and chief executive of Westminster lobbying firm PLMR, claims the Commission’s decision to investigate his bet, coupled with the alleged leaking of its accusations to the media just nine days before polling day, fundamentally altered the course of the election in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
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Now 55, Craig believes the regulator exceeded its authority and failed to demonstrate the professionalism expected of a public institution entrusted with overseeing Britain’s gambling industry. He is calling on the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to investigate the Commission’s conduct, effectiveness and accountability.
Speaking about his campaign, Craig described the regulator as out of control, warning that its actions could have serious consequences for other political candidates in future elections.
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His central allegation is particularly striking, in that he accuses the Gambling Commission of effectively changing the result of a democratic contest by intervening in the final days of an election campaign.
An election campaign overshadowed by controversy
Craig’s political ambitions were thrown into turmoil on 25 June 2024, when Labour suspended him after learning that he had placed a bet on the Conservatives winning the constituency he was contesting.
He subsequently acknowledged staking £800, with the potential to win £400 extra, explaining that he had placed the bet several weeks earlier when he believed his electoral prospects were poor. He also maintained that any winnings would have been donated to charity.
Although he apologised and described the decision as a serious error of judgement, the controversy quickly became a national political story, overshadowing his campaign and raising questions about his suitability to represent Labour.
Craig eventually lost the constituency to Conservative Patrick Spencer by 4,290 votes. He now argues that the publicity surrounding the investigation cost him the opportunity to win the seat, pointing to comparable constituencies and internal polling which he claims had shown him performing strongly.
However, he has not provided further details of the polling, and there is no independent evidence establishing that the Commission’s intervention determined the electoral outcome.
His frustration has intensified because the investigation ultimately ended without prosecution. In December 2024, the Gambling Commission closed the case, stating that there was insufficient evidence to satisfy the full code test for prosecution. Labour subsequently reinstated him.
He insists that the regulator’s allegations should have remained confidential and questions how correspondence addressed to him alone found its way into the media. He argues that the timing of the disclosure, rather than simply the existence of an investigation, raises serious questions about the Commission’s handling of politically sensitive matters.
Demanding accountability from the regulator
Craig’s campaign extends beyond his personal experience, setting out a wider challenge to the Gambling Commission’s priorities, transparency and statutory responsibilities.
Among the issues he wants MPs to examine are whether the regulator has adequate safeguards to prevent investigations from interfering with election campaigns, particularly during periods when political parties and candidates are subject to heightened restrictions on official announcements.
He also wants scrutiny of the Commission’s spending, including allegations concerning its use of quasi-public funds for lobbying and campaigning, and whether financial support for campaign organisations has diverted resources from clinical treatment for gambling-related harm.
Other concerns include the reliability of the regulator’s statistics, the growth of illegal gambling markets, and whether excessive restrictions on legitimate operators are inadvertently encouraging consumers towards unregulated alternatives.
Craig further questions why Commission employees are exempt from certain Business Appointment Rules, arguing that the regulator’s governance arrangements deserve closer examination. He maintains that no gambling industry money is funding his campaign, insisting that he is paying for it himself. He also rejects suggestions that his intervention represents retaliation against the regulator.
His lobbying firm, PLMR, is involved in the campaign, with senior adviser Leon Emirali named as its broadcast contact. Craig denies that the firm or its associated companies have represented gambling operators or trade bodies during the past five years.
Questions the Commission cannot ignore
The controversy surrounding Craig must also be viewed against the wider investigation into alleged betting misconduct during the 2024 general election. That separate inquiry resulted in former Conservative MP Craig Williams pleading guilty to cheating, while several other individuals received suspended sentences. Further cases are awaiting trial.
Craig’s case, however, concerns a different set of circumstances and ended without prosecution. He argues that betting on political outcomes is not inherently illegal and that his actions should not have resulted in the treatment he received.
The Gambling Commission has declined to comment on his accusations, leaving his demand for parliamentary scrutiny unanswered. With the Government reviewing candidates for the regulator’s next chief executive, Craig believes there is an opportunity to confront questions about its leadership, priorities and public accountability.
His argument is that Britain needs a gambling regulator capable of protecting vulnerable people, treating legitimate businesses fairly and maintaining public confidence without compromising democratic processes.
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