A former Labour parliamentary candidate whose campaign was disrupted by allegations of cheating by the Gambling Commission that were later dropped has called on MPs to open an inquiry into the gambling regulator, which he says is “not fit for purpose”.
Kevin Craig was Labour’s candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich at the 2024 general election. The Commission opened an investigation into a bet he had placed, and news of it became public nine days before polling day. Labour suspended him as a result.
The Commission closed the case about five months later and took no action against him. His lawyer described that decision as a “complete and total exoneration”. Mr Craig says he has never received an apology.
He is now asking the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to examine how the Commission works. He is paying for the campaign himself with no external funding.
Mr Craig said: “The Gambling Commission is not fit for purpose. In 2024 it accused me of cheating in writing. That accusation leaked nine days before the general election, while I was a candidate. After nearly six months the Commission dropped the case because it found no evidence of wrongdoing. By then the damage was done.
“The same thing could happen to any candidate at the next election – we cannot let the Gambling Commission distort our democracy in this way.”
Rules for public bodies during an election say their activity “should not be seen to compete with the election campaign for public attention”. Mr Craig wants the committee to ask whether the Commission has enough safeguards to follow those rules.
His campaign also raises the growth of illegal gambling. The Commission itself says some illegal sites are run by criminal networks. Polling shows 14% of gamblers already use illegal sites and about a third would do so for better odds or offers. Spending per person in the legal market has fallen 16% in real terms since 2015-16.
The campaign questions how the Commission spends money. Operators pay settlements when they break the rules, and the Commission directs that money to “socially responsible purposes”. The campaign says the Commission has never assessed whether this spending works.
The Commission’s own budget rose from £18.3 million in 2014-15 to £60.3 million in 2024-25. Its staff grew from 262 to 416. Chief Executive pay rose from £179,000 to £300,000.
The timing matters because the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, is due to approve the Commission’s next Chief Executive. Mr Craig wants the committee to look at the regulator’s record before that appointment is made.
“My concerns go well beyond my own case,” he said. “Ministers and MPs cannot set sensible gambling policy if they cannot trust the regulator. That is why I am asking the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to hold an inquiry.
“Britain deserves a regulator that helps people with gambling addiction, treats a lawful industry fairly and doesn’t disturb the democratic process.”
More information is at thegamblingcommissionisfailing.com
