Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns Over Hold-up To Betting Crackdown

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


1 November 2018


sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers.


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


Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had been "no hold-up in bringing forward this essential measure".
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High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices


' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering machines'


sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2


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


But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being delayed 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 reduce stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.


"In addition, 2 people will unfortunately 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 added: "It is a fact of federal government that ministers must comply with collective duty and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your desires 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 commitment to doing right."


Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "is worthy of substantial credit not simply for her campaign however for sticking up for her concepts".


Fixed-odds wagering 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 federal government.


Currently, individuals can wager up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the makers let players lose money too quickly, resulting in addiction and social, psychological and monetary issues.


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


In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had actually listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into result quicker than April 2020 and "had agreed that the changes need to be in place within the year - by October 2019".


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


The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would imply the government would not be struck by a fall in tax earnings.
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Who is Tracey Crouch?


The 43-year-old MP has represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, since 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 certified 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 standing for election


She had her very first child in 2016 and is believed to have been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave
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But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson accused the government of "capitulating to the gambling market".


He praised Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled decision" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "ought to be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over good".


MPs from all sides of your home took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it should 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 lots of people whose lives have actually been harmed by this dependency ... We need to do this really rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming industry will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this delay. That's not ideal."


Labour has actually told the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the changes next April.