sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘delay’ to wagering crackdown

1 November 2018
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sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over “hold-ups” to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers.

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 pushing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.

She tweeted: “Politicians reoccur however principles stick with us forever.“

Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been “no hold-up in advancing this essential measure”.
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High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers

’ I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting machines'
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sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The federal government has denied Labour declares that MPs had been led to think 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, implementation of these changes are now being delayed till 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 statement to minimize stakes and its application, 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 reason as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable.“

She included: “It is a fact of federal government that ministers must abide by cumulative duty and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your desires relating to your own portfolio.“
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'God bless'

Among those applauding her on social media, 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 “deserves huge credit not simply for her campaign however for sticking up for her concepts”.

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

Currently, people can wager approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling advocates state the makers let gamers lose cash too quickly, resulting in addiction and social, psychological and financial problems.

But bookmakers have actually cautioned the cut in stakes might result in thousands of outlets closing.

In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM said the government had listened to those who wanted the changes to come into effect faster than April 2020 and “had agreed that the modifications ought to be in location within the year - by October 2019”.

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the modification to fixed-odds stakes would come into force next October at the very same time as modifications to task charged on gaming firms based abroad however operating in the UK.

The government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would indicate the 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, because 2010

She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015

She is understood 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 worked for various Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before for 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 federal government of “capitulating to the gambling market”.
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He applauded Ms Crouch’s “bold and principled decision” and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “must be thoroughly ashamed” of prioritising “business interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over good”.

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

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He informed the BBC: “There are a lot of people whose lives have actually been harmed by this addiction ... We need to do this very rapidly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting industry will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this hold-up. That’s wrong.“

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