sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to wagering crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines.
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 might cost the lives of issue gamblers.
She tweeted: "Politicians come and go however concepts stick with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned but there had actually been "no hold-up in advancing this essential step".
High stakes for fixed-odds wagering devices
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting machines'
sports betting machine 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 recommended the cut had been intended to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, application of these modifications 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 minimize stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.
"In addition, two individuals will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that factor as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a truth of federal government that ministers should adhere to cumulative obligation 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 media, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was "principled and courageous" including: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "is worthy of huge credit not simply for her campaign however for sticking up for her concepts".
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals generate ₤ 1.8 bn in income a year for the sports betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.
Currently, people can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the devices let players lose cash too quickly, causing dependency and social, mental and monetary issues.
But bookmakers have cautioned the cut in stakes could lead to thousands of outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had listened to those who desired the changes to come into effect quicker than April 2020 and "had actually agreed that the changes should 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 into force next October at the exact same time as changes to task charged on gaming firms based abroad however operating in the UK.
The government states co-ordinating the date of the two modifications would imply the government would not be struck by a fall in tax earnings.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
The 43-year-old MP has represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, considering that 2010
She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015
She is understood for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a certified 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 numerous Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election
She had her very first child in 2016 and is thought to have actually been the very 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 gambling market".
He praised Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled choice" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "should be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, profits 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 on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He informed 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 delay. That's not right."
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.
