sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to wagering crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers.
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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 pressing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it might cost the lives of issue bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians come and go but concepts stick with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had been "no hold-up in bringing forward this important step".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines
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sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The federal government has rejected Labour claims that MPs had been led to believe 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 postponed until 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 statement to decrease stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.
"In addition, two people will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, because of that as much as any other, I think this delay is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a reality of federal government that ministers must comply with collective responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your dreams relating to 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" adding: "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 but for sticking up for her concepts".
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Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 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 up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the machines let players lose money too quickly, resulting in addiction and social, psychological and monetary issues.
But bookmakers have warned the cut in stakes might 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 impact quicker than April 2020 and "had actually concurred that the modifications must remain in location within the year - by October 2019".
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In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the modification to fixed-odds stakes would come into force next October at the same time as changes to responsibility charged on sports betting firms based abroad however operating in the UK.
The government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would indicate the government would not be struck by a fall in tax earnings.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
The 43-year-old MP has represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, since 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 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
She had actually 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 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 "courageous and principled decision" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be completely embarrassed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over excellent".
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MPs from all sides of the House signed up with in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it must be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He told the BBC: "There are plenty of people whose lives have been damaged by this dependency ... We require to do this extremely rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming market will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this hold-up. That's wrong."
Labour has actually told the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to attempt and generate the modifications next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Hold up' To Betting Crackdown
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