sports betting Minister resigns over 'hold-up' to sports betting crackdown

1 November 2018

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

Chancellor Philip Hammond stated in Monday's Budget 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 could cost the lives of problem bettors.
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She tweeted: Politicians reoccur however principles stay with us permanently.

Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned but there had been no delay in bringing forward this essential step.

High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers

' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting 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 enter force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had been intended to be introduced in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: Unfortunately, implementation of these changes are now being delayed 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 machines.

In addition, two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, because of that as much as any other, I think this hold-up is unjustifiable.

She included: It is a reality of federal government that ministers need to adhere to collective responsibility 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 applauding her on social media, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was principled and courageous adding: May God bless her dedication to doing right.

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she deserves substantial credit not just for her campaign but for sticking up for her concepts.

Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in revenue a year for the sports betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the government.

Currently, people can bet approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates state the machines let gamers lose money too quickly, leading to dependency and social, mental and financial issues.
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But bookmakers have actually warned the cut in stakes could result in countless outlets closing.

In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had actually listened to those who desired the modifications to come into effect earlier than April 2020 and had actually concurred that the modifications must remain in place 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 modifications to responsibility charged on gaming companies based abroad however running in the UK.

The government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would indicate the government 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, given that 2010

She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015

She is known 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 actually worked for numerous Tory MPs, including Michael Howard and David Davis before representing election

She had her very first kid in 2016 and is believed to have been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave

But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson accused the government of capitulating to the gambling industry.

He praised Ms Crouch's brave and principled choice and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright should be thoroughly embarrassed of prioritising corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over great.

MPs from all sides of the House participated in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it must be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He told the BBC: There are lots of people whose lives have actually been harmed by this dependency ... We require to do this really quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong.

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