Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over ‘Hold-up’ 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 “hold-ups” to a crackdown on maximum 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 enter into force in October 2019.

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

She tweeted: “Politicians reoccur but principles remain with us forever.”

Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually but there had actually been “no delay in bringing forward this crucial procedure”.

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers

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

sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The federal government has rejected Labour declares 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 suggested the cut had actually been meant to be presented in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: “Unfortunately, execution of these changes are now being postponed up until October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with registered interests.

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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch

“From the time of the announcement to reduce stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.

“In addition, 2 people will tragically 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 added: “It is a reality of federal government that ministers must stick to collective duty and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your wishes associating with your own portfolio.”

‘God bless’

Among those praising her on social media, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was “principled and bold” including: “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 earnings a year for the sports betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.

Currently, individuals can wager up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the devices let gamers lose cash too quickly, causing addiction and social, psychological and monetary issues.

But bookies have actually alerted the cut in stakes might lead to 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 effect quicker than April 2020 and “had agreed that the modifications need to remain 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 task charged on gaming companies based abroad but running in the UK.

The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would suggest the federal 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, considering 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 qualified 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 various Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before meaning election

She had her first child 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 accused the federal government of “capitulating to the sports betting industry”.

He praised Ms Crouch’s “brave and principled choice” and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “ought to be thoroughly embarrassed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over excellent”.

MPs from all sides of the House took part 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 informed the BBC: “There are lots of people whose lives have been damaged by this addiction … We need to do this really rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling market will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this hold-up. That’s not right.”

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