Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over ‘Delay’ To Betting Crackdown

sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘hold-up’ to sports betting crackdown

1 November 2018

sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over «delays» to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices.

Chancellor Philip Hammond stated in Monday’s Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would come into force in October 2019.

Ms Crouch said pressing back the date was «unjustifiable» and it might cost the lives of problem bettors.

She tweeted: «Politicians come and go however principles stick with us permanently.»

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had actually been «no delay in bringing forward this important step».

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers

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

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

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

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: «Unfortunately, execution of these modifications are now being postponed up 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 announcement to lower stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.

«In addition, two individuals will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, for that reason as much as any other, I think this delay is unjustifiable.»

She included: «It is a reality of federal government that ministers should abide by cumulative duty and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your dreams associating with your own portfolio.»

‘God bless’

Among those praising 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 simply for her project 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.

Currently, people can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the machines let gamers lose cash too quickly, causing addiction and social, psychological and financial problems.

But bookies have warned the cut in stakes could cause thousands of outlets closing.

In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had listened to those who desired the modifications to come into result sooner than April 2020 and «had actually concurred that the changes ought to remain in place within the year — by October 2019».

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the modification to fixed-odds stakes would come into force next October at the very same time as modifications to responsibility charged on gambling companies based abroad however operating in the UK.

The government states co-ordinating the date of the two changes would mean the would not be struck by a fall in tax profits.

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 searching and her love of football — she is a certified FA coach

Grade 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 standing for election

She had her 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 federal government of «capitulating to the gambling market».

He applauded Ms Crouch’s «courageous and principled choice» and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright «ought to be completely embarrassed» of prioritising «business interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over great».

MPs from all sides of the House signed up with in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it needs to 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 a lot of people whose lives have actually been damaged by this addiction … We need to do this extremely rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting market will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this delay. That’s wrong.»

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