<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-06-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001094831</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BGC Partners, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BGCP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001726170</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Richards David</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BGC PARTNERS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>499 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-06-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4030</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11056</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 4,030 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &quot;Class A Common Stock&quot;) are represented by 4,030 restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) granted under the BGC Partners, Inc. Seventh Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Class A Common Stock.  Of the 4,030 RSUs, 2,015 RSUs will vest on June 20, 2019 and 2,015 RSUs will vest on June 20, 2020, provided that the reporting person continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer on such dates.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 4,603 RSUs granted on December 19, 2017, of which 2,301 RSUs will vest on December 19, 2018 and 2,302 RSUs will vest on December 19, 2019, provided that the reporting person continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer on such dates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Richards</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
