sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown
1 November 2018
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sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines.
Chancellor Philip Hammond stated in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would come into force in October 2019.
Ms Crouch said pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians come and go but principles stick with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been "no hold-up in bringing forward this crucial step".
High stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering machines'
sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The government has actually rejected Labour declares that MPs had actually been led to believe the cut would come into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They suggested the cut had actually been planned to be introduced in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, implementation of these changes are now being delayed until October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with signed up interests.
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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch
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"From the time of the announcement to reduce stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.
"In addition, two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that reason as much as any other, I think this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She added: "It is a reality of government that ministers need to abide by cumulative obligation and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your wishes relating to your own portfolio."
'God bless'
Among those praising her on social media, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was "principled and courageous" including: "May God bless her commitment to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "should have big credit not simply for her project but for sticking up for her principles".
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals create ₤ 1.8 bn in revenue a year for the sports betting market, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the government.
Currently, people can wager approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the machines let gamers lose money too rapidly, leading to addiction and social, mental and financial problems.
But bookmakers have actually alerted the cut in stakes could result in countless outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had actually listened to those who desired the changes to come into impact quicker than April 2020 and "had agreed that the changes must remain in location within the year - by October 2019".
In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the modification to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as changes to responsibility charged on gambling firms based abroad but operating in the UK.
The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would suggest 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, since 2010
She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015
She is understood for her opposition to fox searching and her love of football - she is a qualified FA coach
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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 numerous Tory MPs, including and David Davis before meaning election
She had her first kid in 2016 and is believed to have actually been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave
But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson accused the federal government of "capitulating to the sports betting market".
He applauded Ms Crouch's "bold and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be completely embarrassed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over good".
MPs from all sides of your home participated in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it must 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 a lot of individuals whose lives have been damaged by this dependency ... We require to do this very rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong."
Labour has actually informed the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to try and generate the changes next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Delay' To Betting Crackdown
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