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 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 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 come and go however principles remain with us permanently.”

Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had actually been “no hold-up in bringing forward this important measure”.

High stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines

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

sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has actually rejected Labour claims that MPs had actually been led to think the cut would come into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They the cut had actually been meant to be presented in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: “Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being delayed up 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 lower stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.

“In addition, two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that factor 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 obligation and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your dreams 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 brave” including: “May God bless her dedication to doing right.”

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “deserves big credit not simply for her project however for sticking up for her concepts”.

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

Currently, people can wager as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the makers let gamers lose money too rapidly, leading to addiction and social, mental and monetary problems.

But bookmakers have cautioned the cut in stakes could cause thousands of outlets closing.

In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the government had listened to those who desired the changes to come into impact quicker than April 2020 and “had concurred that the changes should remain in place 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 very same time as changes to duty charged on sports betting companies based abroad but running in the UK.

The government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would suggest the government would not be struck by a fall in tax profits.

Who is Tracey Crouch?

The 43-year-old MP has 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 searching and her love of football – she is a certified FA coach

Grammar school informed 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 meaning 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 accused the government of “capitulating to the gaming market”.

He praised Ms Crouch’s “courageous and principled choice” and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “need to be thoroughly embarrassed” of prioritising “business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over good”.

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

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He informed the BBC: “There are lots of people whose lives have 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 a result of this delay. That’s not best.”

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