Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over ‘Hold-up’ To Betting Crackdown

sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘delay’ to sports betting 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 stated in Monday’s Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would enter into force in October 2019.

Ms Crouch stated pushing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it might cost the lives of issue bettors.

She tweeted: “Politicians come and go however concepts stick with us forever.”

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

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices

‘ I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting devices’

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has denied Labour declares 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 been intended to be introduced 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 commitments 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 minimize stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.

“In addition, two people will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, for that factor as much as any other, I think this delay is unjustifiable.”

She included: “It is a truth of federal government that ministers should abide by cumulative responsibility 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 praising her on social media, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was “principled and bold” adding: “May God bless her commitment to doing right.”

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 principles”.

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

Currently, individuals can wager as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the makers let gamers lose money too rapidly, leading to addiction and social, mental and .

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

In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the changes to come into result faster than April 2020 and “had actually concurred that the modifications should remain in location within the year – by October 2019”.

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as changes to duty charged on gambling firms based abroad but running in the UK.

The government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would imply 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 known for her opposition to fox searching 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 standing for election

She had her first kid in 2016 and is believed to have actually been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave

But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson accused the federal government of “capitulating to the gaming market”.

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

MPs from all sides of the House joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it ought to be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later this month.

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He informed the BBC: “There are plenty of people whose lives have actually been damaged by this addiction … We require to do this very rapidly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling industry will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this hold-up. That’s not ideal.”

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