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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘delay’ 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.
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Chancellor Philip Hammond said in Monday’s Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would enter force in October 2019.

Ms Crouch said pushing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.

She tweeted: “Politicians reoccur however concepts stick with us forever.”

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

High stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines

’ I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering machines’

sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The 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 intended to be introduced in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: “Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being delayed till 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 implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.

“In addition, 2 people will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, for that factor as much as any other, I believe this hold-up is unjustifiable.”

She added: “It is a fact of federal government that ministers need to comply with cumulative obligation 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 applauding her on social media, the Archbishop of Welby tweeted, external that she was “principled and brave” including: “May God bless her commitment to doing right.”

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “deserves huge credit not just for her project but for sticking up for her concepts”.

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

Currently, people can wager as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the makers let players lose money too quickly, causing addiction and social, mental and financial issues.

But bookies have alerted the cut in stakes could lead to countless outlets closing.

In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had listened to those who desired the modifications to come into effect faster than April 2020 and “had actually agreed that the modifications ought to be in place within the year - by October 2019”.

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

The federal government states co-ordinating the date of the two changes would indicate the government would not be hit by a fall in tax revenue.

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 competent FA coach

Grade school educated at Folkestone School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and politics from Hull University
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She had actually worked for different 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 been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave

But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson implicated the federal government of “capitulating to the sports betting industry”.

He applauded Ms Crouch’s “brave and principled decision” and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “ought to be completely ashamed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over excellent”.

MPs from all sides of your home signed up with in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it needs to be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later this month.

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill

He informed the BBC: “There are a lot of individuals whose lives have been damaged by this addiction … We require to do this really quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That’s not ideal.”

Labour has actually told the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to attempt and generate the modifications next April.