Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over ‘Hold-up’ To Betting Crackdown

sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘delay’ to sports betting crackdown

1 November 2018

sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over « hold-ups » to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers.

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

Ms Crouch stated pushing 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 said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been « no delay in advancing this essential step ».

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines

‘ 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 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 intended to be introduced in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: « Unfortunately, implementation 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 announcement to decrease stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.

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

She included: « It is a fact of federal government that ministers need to stick to collective duty and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your wishes relating 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 bold » adding: « May God bless her commitment to doing right. »

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

Fixed-odds wagering terminals generate ₤ 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 as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the devices let players lose cash too quickly, resulting in addiction and social, psychological and monetary issues.

But bookmakers have actually alerted the cut in stakes could result in thousands of outlets closing.

In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into impact quicker than April 2020 and « had actually concurred that the modifications ought to be in location within the year – by October 2019 ».

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter force next October at the exact same time as changes to responsibility charged on based abroad however running in the UK.

The federal government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would indicate the federal government would not be struck by a fall in tax income.

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

Grammar 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, including Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election

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

But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson implicated the federal government of « capitulating to the gambling industry ».

He praised Ms Crouch’s « bold and principled decision » and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright « should be thoroughly embarrassed » of prioritising « business interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over good ».

MPs from all sides of your house participated his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it must be discussed 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 rapidly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That’s wrong. »

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