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 stated in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would enter into force in October 2019.
Ms Crouch stated pressing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur but concepts stick with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had actually been "no hold-up in advancing this essential step".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting machines'
sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
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The government has denied Labour claims that MPs had been led to believe the cut would enter into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They suggested the cut had actually been meant to be introduced in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being postponed till 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 announcement to minimize stakes and its implementation, 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 issues and, for that factor as much as any other, I think this delay is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a fact of government that ministers need to stick to collective obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your wishes connecting to your own portfolio."
'God bless'
Among those praising her on social networks, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was "principled and brave" including: "May God bless her commitment to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "deserves huge credit not just for her project but for sticking up for her principles".
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in income a year for the wagering industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.
Currently, people can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates state the devices let players lose cash too rapidly, causing dependency and social, mental and monetary problems.
But bookmakers have actually warned the cut in stakes might lead to thousands of outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the changes to come into impact faster than April 2020 and "had actually concurred that the modifications need to remain in location within the year - by October 2019".
In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said 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 operating in the UK.
The government states co-ordinating the date of the two changes would indicate the federal government would not be hit by a fall in tax earnings.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
The 43-year-old MP has actually represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, because 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 competent FA coach
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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, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for 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 gaming market".
He praised Ms Crouch's "bold and principled choice" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be completely embarrassed" of prioritising "corporate 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 must be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He told the BBC: "There are a lot of people whose lives have been harmed by this dependency ... We require to do this extremely quickly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling industry will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this delay. That's wrong."
Labour has 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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