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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to wagering crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds wagering 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.
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Ms Crouch said pressing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur but concepts remain with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had actually been "no delay in bringing forward this crucial procedure".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting machines'
sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
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The federal government has actually rejected that MPs had actually been led to believe the cut would come into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They suggested the cut had been intended to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, execution of these changes are now being postponed up until October 2019 due to dedications made by others to those with signed up interests.
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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch
"From the time of the statement to lower stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.
"In addition, 2 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."
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She added: "It is a reality of federal government that ministers should follow collective duty and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your dreams associating with 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 bold" including: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "should have huge credit not just for her project 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 bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the devices let gamers lose cash too rapidly, leading to dependency and social, psychological and monetary issues.
But bookmakers have alerted the cut in stakes might result in thousands of outlets closing.
In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into result quicker than April 2020 and "had 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 enter force next October at the very same time as modifications to task charged on gambling companies based abroad but running in the UK.
The government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 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 searching and her love of football - she is a qualified FA coach
Grammar school informed 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 meaning election
She had her very first kid in 2016 and is thought to have actually 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 market".
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He praised Ms Crouch's "brave and principled decision" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "ought to be completely ashamed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over great".
MPs from all sides of the House took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it ought to be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
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He told the BBC: "There are plenty of people whose lives have been damaged by this dependency ... We need to do this very rapidly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong."
Labour has actually told 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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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Hold up' To Betting Crackdown
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