sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘delay’ to wagering crackdown

1 November 2018

sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over “delays” to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said in Monday’s Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would enter 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 principles stick with us forever.”

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had actually been “no hold-up in bringing forward this important step”.
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High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers

’ I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering makers’

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has 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 suggested the cut had actually been planned to be introduced in April 2020.

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

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

She included: “It is a fact of federal government that ministers need to follow cumulative responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your wishes relating to 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 courageous” adding: “May God bless her commitment to doing right.”

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “should have huge credit not simply for her campaign however for sticking up for her principles”.

Fixed-odds wagering terminals generate ₤ 1.8 bn in revenue a year for the wagering industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.
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Currently, individuals can wager approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the devices let players lose money too quickly, leading to addiction and social, mental and financial issues.

But bookies have warned the cut in stakes could result in countless outlets closing.

In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had listened to those who wanted the changes to come into effect earlier than April 2020 and “had agreed that the changes need to be in location within the year - by October 2019”.

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

The federal government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would mean 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, since 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 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 worked for numerous Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election

She had her very first kid in 2016 and is thought to have actually 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 “brave and principled choice” and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “should be completely embarrassed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over excellent”.

MPs from all sides of your house joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it needs 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 a lot of people whose lives have actually been harmed by this addiction … We require to do this extremely rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That’s not right.”

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