sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to wagering crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "hold-ups" to a crackdown on optimal 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 enter into force in October 2019.
Ms Crouch stated pressing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it might cost the lives of problem gamblers.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur however principles stay with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned however there had actually been "no hold-up in advancing this essential procedure".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting devices'
sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
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The federal government has denied 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 introduced in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, execution of these modifications are now being delayed up 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 reduce stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.
"In addition, 2 people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that factor as much as any other, I believe this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a truth of government that ministers should follow collective obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your desires associating with 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 brave" including: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."
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Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "is worthy of substantial credit not just for her project however for sticking up for her concepts".
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals generate ₤ 1.8 bn in income 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 approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the machines let gamers lose money too rapidly, resulting in dependency and social, psychological and financial problems.
But bookies have actually cautioned the cut in stakes might lead to countless outlets closing.
In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had actually listened to those who desired the modifications to come into result sooner than April 2020 and "had agreed that the changes must be in location within the year - by October 2019".
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In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as changes to task charged on gaming firms based abroad but running in the UK.
The government states co-ordinating the date of the two modifications would indicate the federal government would not be hit by a fall in tax income.
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 certified FA coach
Grammar 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 various Tory MPs, including Michael Howard and David Davis before meaning election
She had her first kid in 2016 and is believed to have been the 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 gambling industry".
He applauded Ms Crouch's "brave and principled decision" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "should be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over great".
MPs from all sides of your house joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Smith said it must 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 informed the BBC: "There are a lot of individuals whose lives have actually been damaged by this addiction ... We need to do this really rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming market will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this hold-up. That's wrong."
Labour has actually informed the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to attempt 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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