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 makers.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said 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 could cost the lives of problem bettors.

She tweeted: «Politicians reoccur however principles stick with us permanently.»

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had actually been «no hold-up in advancing this important measure».

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices

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

stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has denied 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 recommended the cut had been meant to be presented in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: «Unfortunately, execution of these modifications are now being postponed till October 2019 due to dedications made by others to those with registered interests.

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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch

«From the time of the statement to decrease stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.

«In addition, two individuals will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, because of that as much as any other, I believe this hold-up is unjustifiable.»

She included: «It is a fact of federal government that ministers need to comply with collective duty 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 praising her on social networks, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was «principled and brave» including: «May God bless her commitment to doing right.»

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she «deserves big credit not just for her campaign however for sticking up for her concepts».

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

Currently, individuals can wager as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates state the machines let players lose cash too rapidly, causing addiction and social, mental and financial problems.

But bookmakers have actually alerted the cut in stakes could cause countless outlets closing.

In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had actually listened to those who desired the modifications to come into result faster than April 2020 and «had agreed that the modifications need to be in location within the year – by October 2019».

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

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

Who is Tracey Crouch?

The 43-year-old MP has actually represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, considering that 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 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 worked for different Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election

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

He applauded Ms Crouch’s «brave and principled decision» and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright «need to be completely ashamed» of prioritising «corporate interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over good».

MPs from all sides of the House joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it should 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 harmed by this addiction … We need to do this extremely 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 right.»

Labour has informed the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the changes next April.