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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 resigned over “delays” to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds sports betting 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 stated pressing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it might cost the lives of problem bettors.

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

Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been “no delay in advancing this crucial measure”.

High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers

‘ I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting machines’

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The federal government has rejected Labour claims that MPs had been led to believe the cut would enter force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They suggested the cut had actually been intended to be presented in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: “Unfortunately, execution of these modifications are now being delayed 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 to lower stakes and its execution, 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.”

She added: “It is a truth of government that ministers should adhere to cumulative responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your desires relating to your own portfolio.”

‘God bless’

Among those applauding her on social media, 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 substantial credit not simply for her project however for sticking up for her concepts”.

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

Currently, people can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the machines let players lose money too quickly, leading to dependency and social, mental and monetary problems.

But bookies have warned the cut in stakes could cause thousands of outlets closing.

In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the changes to come into effect sooner than April 2020 and “had actually agreed that the changes ought to remain in location within the year – by October 2019”.

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as changes to duty charged on sports betting companies based abroad but operating in the UK.

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

Who is Tracey Crouch?

The 43-year-old MP has 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 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 actually worked for different Tory MPs, including Michael Howard and David Davis before meaning election

She had her first child in 2016 and is thought 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 sports betting market”.

He praised Ms Crouch’s “brave and principled choice” and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “need to be thoroughly ashamed” of prioritising “business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over great”.

MPs from all sides of your home participated his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it should be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later this month.

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He told the BBC: “There are plenty of people whose lives have actually been harmed by this dependency … 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 hold-up. That’s not right.”

Labour has told the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the modifications next April.