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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘delay’ to sports betting crackdown
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1 November 2018
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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 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 stay with us permanently.”

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

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers

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

sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has actually rejected Labour claims that MPs had been led to think the cut would enter into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They suggested the cut had been planned 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 registered interests.

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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch

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

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

She included: “It is a reality of federal government that ministers must follow cumulative responsibility and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your wishes 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 brave” including: “May God bless her dedication to doing right.”

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “deserves substantial credit not simply for her project however for sticking up for her concepts”.

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

Currently, people can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the machines let gamers lose money too rapidly, resulting in addiction and social, mental and financial problems.

But bookmakers have warned the cut in stakes might result in thousands of outlets closing.

In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the government had listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into result faster than April 2020 and “had concurred that the modifications ought to 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 into force next October at the exact same time as changes to duty charged on sports betting firms based abroad but operating in the UK.

The government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would mean 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, because 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 qualified FA coach

Grammar 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 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 gaming market”.

He praised Ms Crouch’s “bold and principled choice” and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “must be thoroughly ashamed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over great”.

MPs from all sides of the House took part his criticism. Former Iain Duncan Smith stated it should be discussed 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 actually been damaged by this dependency … We need to do this extremely quickly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That’s not ideal.”

Labour has told the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the changes next April.