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

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 devices.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said in that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would enter force in October 2019.

Ms Crouch said pressing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it might cost the lives of problem gamblers.

She tweeted: “Politicians reoccur however principles remain with us permanently.”

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

High stakes for fixed-odds wagering devices

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

sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The federal government has rejected Labour claims that MPs had 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 changes are now being postponed 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 decrease stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.

“In addition, two people will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, for that factor as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable.”

She included: “It is a fact of government that ministers should abide by collective responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your desires connecting to 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 brave” adding: “May God bless her commitment to doing right.”

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “is worthy of substantial credit not simply for her project but for sticking up for her principles”.

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

Currently, people can wager up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the devices let players lose money too quickly, leading to dependency and social, mental and monetary problems.

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

In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into impact sooner than April 2020 and “had actually concurred that the modifications must remain in location within the year – by October 2019”.

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the same time as modifications to task charged on gaming firms based abroad but running in the UK.

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

Who is Tracey Crouch?

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

She is understood for her opposition to fox searching and her love of football – she is a competent 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 actually worked for different 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 very 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 industry”.

He applauded Ms Crouch’s “courageous and principled choice” and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “ought to be thoroughly ashamed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over good”.

MPs from all sides of the House participated 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 lots of individuals whose lives have been harmed by this dependency … We need to do this very quickly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That’s not best.”

Labour has actually told the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the changes next April.