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

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

1 November 2018

sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over “delays” to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers.

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

Ms Crouch stated pressing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it might cost the lives of issue gamblers.

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

Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned but there had actually been “no delay in bringing forward this crucial procedure”.

High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers

‘ I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering machines’

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

The government has actually denied Labour declares that MPs had actually 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 been planned to be introduced in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: “Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being postponed 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 reduce stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.

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

She added: “It is a fact of federal government that ministers must stick to cumulative duty and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your wishes relating to your own portfolio.”

‘God bless’

Among those applauding her on social media, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was “principled and bold” adding: “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 campaign however for sticking up for her principles”.

Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in profits a year for the sports betting market, 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 games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the machines let gamers lose cash too quickly, causing dependency and social, psychological and financial problems.

But bookmakers have actually cautioned the cut in stakes could result in thousands of outlets closing.

In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had actually listened to those who desired the changes to come into result faster than April 2020 and “had actually agreed that the modifications must remain in place within the year – by October 2019”.

In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as modifications to responsibility charged on gaming firms based abroad however running in the UK.

The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would suggest the federal 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, given that 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 certified FA coach

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, including Michael Howard and David Davis before representing election

She had her very first kid in 2016 and is believed to have actually been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave

But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour’s deputy leader accused the government of “capitulating to the sports betting market”.

He praised Ms Crouch’s “bold and principled decision” and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “ought to be thoroughly embarrassed” of prioritising “corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over excellent”.

MPs from all sides of the House joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it ought to be gone over 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 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 sports betting market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That’s not best.”

Labour has actually informed the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to attempt and generate the changes next April.