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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "hold-ups" to a crackdown on maximum 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 stated pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of issue bettors.
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She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur however principles remain with us permanently."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned but there had been "no hold-up in advancing this important measure".
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 claims 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 suggested the cut had actually been planned to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being delayed 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 lower stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.
"In addition, two people 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 government that ministers need to follow collective obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your dreams associating with 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 courageous" adding: "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 however for sticking up for her concepts".
Fixed-odds wagering terminals generate ₤ 1.8 bn in income a year for the sports betting market, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the government.
Currently, people can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the makers let players lose money too rapidly, causing addiction and social, psychological and financial issues.
But bookies have alerted the cut in stakes could result in countless outlets closing.
In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into impact faster than April 2020 and "had actually concurred that the changes must remain in location 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 very same time as changes to responsibility charged on sports betting companies based abroad however running in the UK.
The government states co-ordinating the date of the two changes would suggest the government would not be struck by a fall in tax profits.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
The 43-year-old MP has represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, given that 2010
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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
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Grade school informed at Folkestone School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and from Hull University
She had actually worked for various Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election
She had her very first child in 2016 and is believed to have been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave
But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson accused the federal government of "capitulating to the sports betting market".
He applauded Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled choice" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over good".
MPs from all sides of the House participated his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it should be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He informed the BBC: "There are plenty of individuals whose lives have actually been damaged by this dependency ... We require to do this very quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming market will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this delay. That's wrong."
Labour has told the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the changes next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Hold-up' To Betting Crackdown
paulinaparrott edited this page 2025-01-02 06:39:14 +01:00