sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘hold-up’ to sports betting crackdown
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1 November 2018

sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually 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.
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Ms Crouch stated pressing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.

She tweeted: “Politicians come and go but principles remain with us permanently.”

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

High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers

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

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has actually rejected Labour declares that MPs had 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 presented in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: “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 statement to lower stakes and its application, 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 delay is unjustifiable.”
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She included: “It is a fact of government that ministers need to abide by cumulative responsibility and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your desires 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 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 however for sticking up for her concepts”.

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

Currently, individuals can wager up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the makers let players lose money too quickly, leading to addiction and social, mental and monetary problems.

But bookies have alerted the cut in stakes might result in countless outlets closing.

In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had listened to those who desired the changes to come into effect quicker than April 2020 and “had actually concurred that the changes need to remain in place within the year - by October 2019”.

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the modification to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the very same time as changes to task charged on gaming firms based abroad however operating in the UK.

The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the two modifications would mean the federal government would not be struck by a fall in tax revenue.

Who is Tracey Crouch?
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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 known for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a qualified FA coach
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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 numerous Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before meaning election

She had her very first kid in 2016 and is thought to have actually been the 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 gaming market”.

He applauded Ms Crouch’s “courageous and principled choice” and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “should be thoroughly ashamed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over good”.

MPs from all sides of the House joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain said it should be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
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Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He told the BBC: “There are lots of individuals whose lives have actually been harmed by this dependency … We require to do this extremely rapidly, as rapidly 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 change to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the changes next April.