Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns Over Delay To Betting Crackdown

sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to sports betting crackdown


1 November 2018


sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "hold-ups" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines.


Chancellor Philip Hammond said in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would enter 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 principles stick with us forever."


Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been "no delay in advancing this essential measure".


High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices


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


sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2


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


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


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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch


"From the time of the announcement to reduce stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.


"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 delay is unjustifiable."


She included: "It is a reality of federal government that ministers must follow collective duty and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your wishes connecting to your own portfolio."


'God bless'


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


Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "deserves big credit not simply for her campaign however for sticking up for her principles".


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


Currently, individuals can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling advocates state the devices let gamers lose money too quickly, resulting in dependency and social, psychological and financial issues.


But bookmakers have actually cautioned the cut in stakes could result in thousands of outlets closing.
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In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had listened to those who wanted the changes to come into impact sooner than April 2020 and "had concurred that the changes should be in location within the year - by October 2019".


In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the modification to fixed-odds stakes would come into force next October at the exact same time as modifications to duty charged on gaming firms based abroad but operating in the UK.


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


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


Grammar school educated at 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 standing for election
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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 gaming industry".
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He applauded Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "should be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over good".


MPs from all sides of the House participated his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it needs to be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later this month.


Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill


He informed the BBC: "There are a lot of individuals whose lives have been harmed by this addiction ... We require to do this very rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That's wrong."


Labour has informed the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to try and generate the changes next April.
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