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

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

1 November 2018

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

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

Ms Crouch said back the date was « unjustifiable » and it could cost the lives of problem gamblers.

She tweeted: « Politicians reoccur however concepts remain with us forever. »

Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had actually been « no hold-up in bringing forward this important step ».

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers

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

sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has rejected Labour declares that MPs had been led to believe the cut would enter into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had actually been intended to be introduced in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: « Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being delayed 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 decrease stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.

« In addition, 2 people will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that reason as much as any other, I think this delay is unjustifiable. »

She added: « It is a fact of federal government that ministers should follow cumulative duty and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your desires associating with your own portfolio. »

‘God bless’

Among those applauding her on social networks, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was « principled and bold » including: « 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 project but for sticking up for her concepts ».

Fixed-odds wagering terminals generate ₤ 1.8 bn in earnings a year for the sports betting market, 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 casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the machines let players lose cash too quickly, leading to addiction and social, psychological and financial issues.

But bookmakers have actually alerted the cut in stakes might cause countless outlets closing.

In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said 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 should remain in place within the year – by October 2019 ».

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would come into force next October at the exact same time as modifications to task charged on gambling companies based abroad but operating in the UK.

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

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 known for her opposition to fox searching and her love of football – she is a qualified FA coach

Grade school informed 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 representing election

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

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

He applauded Ms Crouch’s « brave and principled choice » and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright « need to be thoroughly ashamed » of prioritising « corporate interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over good ».

MPs from all sides of your home took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it ought to be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He informed the BBC: « There are a lot of individuals whose lives have been harmed by this addiction … We need to do this really quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That’s wrong. »

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