Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over ‘Delay’ To Betting Crackdown
sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over ‘hold-up’ to sports betting crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over “delays” to a crackdown on optimal 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 pressing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it might cost the lives of problem gamblers.
She tweeted: “Politicians come and go however principles stick with us forever.”
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had actually been “no hold-up in bringing forward this essential measure”.
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers
‘ I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering machines’
sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The federal 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 suggested the cut had actually been intended to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: “Unfortunately, execution of these changes are now being delayed until October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with signed up interests.
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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch
“From the time of the statement to decrease stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.
“In addition, two individuals will tragically 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 government that ministers must comply with collective responsibility and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your dreams connecting to 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 brave” adding: “May God bless her commitment to doing right.”
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “deserves huge credit not simply for her project but for sticking up for her concepts”.
Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in earnings a year for the wagering industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the government.
Currently, individuals can bet approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates state the makers let players lose cash too rapidly, resulting in dependency and social, mental and monetary issues.
But bookies have actually warned the cut in stakes could cause countless outlets closing.
In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had actually listened to those who desired the changes to come into effect sooner than April 2020 and “had actually agreed that the modifications should remain 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 same time as modifications to duty charged on gaming companies based abroad however running in the UK.
The federal government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would indicate the federal 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, 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 competent FA coach
Grade school educated at 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 representing election
She had her very first child in 2016 and is believed to have 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 sports betting market”.
He praised Ms Crouch’s “bold and principled choice” and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “should be thoroughly ashamed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over excellent”.
MPs from all sides of the House took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it should be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He told the BBC: “There are a lot of people whose lives have actually been damaged by this dependency … We need to do this extremely rapidly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That’s not ideal.”
Labour has informed the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the changes next April.