Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns Over Hold-up 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 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 come into force in October 2019.
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Ms Crouch stated pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur however concepts remain with us permanently."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been "no delay in bringing forward this crucial measure".
High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering machines'
sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
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The government has actually rejected 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 planned to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being postponed 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 lower 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, because of that as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a reality of government that ministers must stick to cumulative obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your desires 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 courageous" including: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "is worthy of huge credit not just for her campaign however for sticking up for her concepts".
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in income a year for the sports betting market, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the government.
Currently, people can bet approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the machines let gamers lose money too rapidly, causing dependency and social, psychological and financial issues.
But bookmakers have actually the cut in stakes might result in thousands of outlets closing.
In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had listened to those who desired the changes to come into result earlier than April 2020 and "had concurred that the changes ought to remain in location within the year - by October 2019".
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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 duty charged on gambling companies based abroad however running in the UK.
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The federal government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would imply the federal government would not be struck by a fall in tax revenue.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
The 43-year-old MP has actually represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, considering that 2010
She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015
She is understood for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a competent FA coach
Grade school educated 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, including Michael Howard and David Davis before representing election
She had her very first child 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 government of "capitulating to the gambling industry".
He applauded Ms Crouch's "bold and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "must be thoroughly embarrassed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over good".
MPs from all sides of your home signed up with in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it ought to be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He informed the BBC: "There are lots of people whose lives have been harmed by this dependency ... We require to do this very rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That's wrong."
Labour has actually informed the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to try and generate the changes next April.