Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns Over Delay To Betting Crackdown

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 wagering devices.


Chancellor Philip Hammond said in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would come into force in October 2019.


Ms Crouch said pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it might cost the lives of issue bettors.


She tweeted: "Politicians come and go however principles stick with us permanently."


Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had actually been "no hold-up in advancing this important measure".
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High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines


' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering makers'
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sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2


The federal government has actually denied Labour declares 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 suggested the cut had been planned to be presented in April 2020.


But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, implementation of these changes are now being postponed till October 2019 due to commitments 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 decrease stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.


"In addition, two individuals will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, because of that as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable."


She included: "It is a fact of government that ministers should comply with cumulative obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your wishes 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 "is worthy of big credit not just for her project however for sticking up for her concepts".


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


Currently, people can bet approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the devices let gamers lose money too quickly, causing dependency and social, psychological and monetary issues.


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


In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into result sooner than April 2020 and "had actually concurred that the modifications ought to remain in place 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 same time as changes to responsibility charged on gaming firms based abroad but operating in the UK.


The government states co-ordinating the date of the two modifications would suggest the federal government would not be struck by a fall in tax revenue.


Who is Tracey Crouch?


The 43-year-old MP has represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, considering that 2010


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


She is known for her to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a competent FA coach


Grade school educated at Folkestone School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and politics from Hull University
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She had worked for various Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election


She had her very 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 accused the government of "capitulating to the gambling market".


He praised Ms Crouch's "bold and principled decision" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be thoroughly embarrassed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over excellent".


MPs from all sides of your home participated in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it should be discussed 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 been damaged by this addiction ... We require to do this really quickly, 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 not ideal."


Labour has informed the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the changes next April.