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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘hold-up’ to sports betting crackdown
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1 November 2018
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sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over “hold-ups” to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds wagering devices.

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

She tweeted: “Politicians come and go but concepts stay with us forever.“

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had actually been “no delay in bringing forward this crucial step”.

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices

’ I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting machines'

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The federal government has rejected Labour declares that MPs had 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 actually been planned to be introduced in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: “Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being delayed 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 announcement to minimize stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.

"In addition, 2 individuals will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that reason as much as any other, I believe this hold-up is unjustifiable.“

She added: “It is a fact of government that ministers need to follow collective responsibility and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your wishes 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 bold” including: “May God bless her commitment to doing right.“

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “deserves substantial credit not just for her campaign but for sticking up for her principles”.

Fixed-odds sports betting terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in profits a year for the wagering market, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the government.

Currently, people can bet approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the machines let gamers lose cash too quickly, causing addiction and social, psychological and financial problems.

But bookies have actually warned the cut in stakes might result in thousands of outlets closing.

In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had actually listened to those who desired the modifications to come into impact earlier than April 2020 and “had actually agreed that the modifications need to be in location within the year - by October 2019”.

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the modification to fixed-odds stakes would enter force next October at the exact same time as changes to responsibility charged on sports betting firms based abroad but running in the UK.

The federal government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would suggest the 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, given that 2010

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

She is understood for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a certified FA coach

Grade school educated at School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and politics from Hull University

She had worked for numerous Tory MPs, including Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election

She had her first child in 2016 and is believed to have 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 industry”.

He praised Ms Crouch’s “courageous and principled decision” and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “need to be completely ashamed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over good”.

MPs from all sides of your house took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it ought to be gone over 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 actually been damaged by this dependency ... We require to do this extremely quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting 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 bring in the modifications next April.