After taking a step back from the Welsh shadow cabinet amid his investigation by the Gambling Commission, the Conservative member Russell George has resumed his role within the party. The gambling watchdog sent a letter to George in June regarding bets on the general election timing. As he returned to his party’s front bench, the politician revealed his uncertainty about the Commission’s current stance on the matter. George added that it has been a few months since he heard from the regulator about the probe.
Although gambling is legal in Wales, the Commission keeps an eye on the market in licensing, regulating, advising, and providing guidance to individuals and businesses. The UK has one of the most regulated markets in the world, thanks to the diligent work of the Gambling Commission. The market is consistently booming with millions of patrons, especially active online gamblers. The remote accessibility of betting websites has influenced the increase of gamers, who prefer to play from the comfort of their homes, avoiding potential restrictions and accessing casinos not on Gamstop. Although the UKGC’s regulatory oversight ensures a fair and safe gambling environment for all, non-Gamstop sites are licenced in other countries and accept UK players. Therefore, they fall outwith the UKGC’s jurisdiction, much like George’s opportunity to bet on the results of the election.
George took a break from the cabinet to avoid being “an unnecessary distraction” to the Gambling Commission as they conducted the investigation. In addition to resuming his duties as spokesman for mid-Wales, the Welsh Conservative member has also returned to being chair of the health committee of the Senedd. Per a conversation with James William on Radio Wales Breakfast, George resumed his usual activities with the party “some weeks ago” after being in contact with them for months.
During months of engaging the Gambling watchdog, the politician said he cooperated with them voluntarily. He emphasized that he had not heard more details regarding the matter from the Commission and had no idea about their decision. On the other hand, a representative stated that there would be no comment from the team to avoid compromising the integrity of the investigation.
While the Gambling Commission has yet to disclose its position on the investigation officially, the Metropolitan Police said it has drawn the curtain on its probe into the election betting scandal. According to law enforcement agencies, the offenses are not “high bar” enough to prove misconduct in public office. However, the Met emphasized that its closure of the case does not dissolve the ongoing investigation with the Gambling Commission. Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin noted that the gambling watchdog will use its expertise to further their investigation as there are Gambling Act offenses to take into consideration.
Similarly, the Metropolitan police also dropped its probe into George’s colleague Craig Williams who was being investigated for similar allegations. The allegations against both George and Williams revolved around bets placed on the timing of the general election, which were seen as potential conflicts of interest. Although there were no criminal charges, the investigation caused a stir and dented public trust during the election.