Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Hold-up' To Betting Crackdown

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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to wagering crackdown

sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown


1 November 2018


sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds wagering devices.


Chancellor Philip Hammond said in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would come into force in October 2019.


Ms Crouch stated pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of issue bettors.


She tweeted: "Politicians come and go however concepts remain with us permanently."

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Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had actually been "no hold-up in advancing this essential procedure".


High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers


' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting makers'


sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2


The federal government has denied Labour claims that MPs had actually been led to think the cut would enter into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had been planned to be introduced in April 2020.


But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, implementation of these changes are now being delayed up until October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with registered interests.


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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch


"From the time of the statement to lower stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.


"In addition, 2 individuals will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that reason as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable."

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She added: "It is a reality of government that ministers must stick to collective obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your dreams connecting to your own portfolio."


'God bless'

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Among those applauding her on social networks, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was "principled and brave" adding: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."


Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "should have substantial credit not simply for her project but for sticking up for her concepts".


Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in earnings a year for the sports betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.


Currently, individuals can bet as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the devices let gamers lose money too quickly, resulting in addiction and social, mental and monetary issues.


But bookmakers have alerted the cut in stakes might result in countless outlets closing.


In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had actually listened to those who desired the changes to come into effect quicker than April 2020 and "had actually agreed that the modifications need to be in place within the year - by October 2019".


In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would come into force next October at the very same time as modifications to task charged on gaming companies based abroad however operating in the UK.


The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the two changes would mean the government would not be struck by a fall in tax earnings.


Who is Tracey Crouch?


The 43-year-old MP has actually represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, given that 2010


She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015


She is known for her opposition to fox searching and her love of football - she is a qualified FA coach


Grammar school informed at Folkestone School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and politics from Hull University


She had worked for various Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before representing election


She had her first child in 2016 and is believed to have been the very first Tory minister to take maternity leave


But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson implicated the government of "capitulating to the sports betting market".


He praised Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be thoroughly embarrassed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over excellent".


MPs from all sides of the House took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it should be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.


Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill


He informed the BBC: "There are plenty of people whose lives have actually been damaged by this addiction ... We need to do this extremely quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong."


Labour has told the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the modifications next April.

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