Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns Over Delay To Betting Crackdown
sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to wagering crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "hold-ups" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers.
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 stated pressing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it might cost the lives of issue gamblers.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur but principles stick with us permanently."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned but there had actually been "no delay in advancing this essential step".
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High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering devices'
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The government has actually rejected Labour claims 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, execution of these modifications are now being delayed 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 statement to lower stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.
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"In addition, two people will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that factor as much as any other, I think this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a reality of government that ministers need to adhere to cumulative responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your desires connecting to your own portfolio."
'God bless'
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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 "should have huge credit not just for her campaign however for sticking up for her principles".
Fixed-odds wagering terminals create ₤ 1.8 bn in earnings a year for the sports betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.
Currently, individuals can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the machines let gamers lose money too rapidly, causing addiction and social, mental and financial problems.
But bookmakers have actually alerted the cut in stakes might cause thousands of outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the government had listened to those who wanted the changes to come into effect quicker than April 2020 and "had actually agreed that the modifications must remain in location within the year - by October 2019".
In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the modification to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as changes to task charged on gambling companies based abroad but operating in the UK.
The government says co-ordinating the date of the two modifications would indicate the government would not be struck by a fall in tax profits.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
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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
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She is understood for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of she is a qualified 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 actually worked for numerous Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before representing election
She had her very first child 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 implicated the federal government of "capitulating to the sports betting market".
He applauded Ms Crouch's "brave and principled decision" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "must be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over good".
MPs from all sides of your home joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it ought to be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He informed the BBC: "There are lots of individuals whose lives have been damaged by this addiction ... We require to do this very quickly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's not ideal."
Labour has actually told the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the modifications next April.