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 said in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would enter into force in October 2019.
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Ms Crouch said pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of problem bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians come and go but principles stay with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned however there had actually been "no hold-up in bringing forward this crucial measure".
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High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices
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The federal government has actually denied Labour claims that MPs had been led to think the cut would come into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They suggested the cut had been planned to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being postponed till 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 announcement to lower stakes and its implementation, 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 issues and, for that factor as much as any other, I believe this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She added: "It is a reality of federal government that ministers must stick to cumulative duty and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your wishes 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 bold" adding: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "should have big credit not just for her project however for sticking up for her concepts".
Fixed-odds sports betting 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 government.
Currently, individuals can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the devices let players lose cash too rapidly, causing dependency and social, psychological and financial problems.
But bookmakers have alerted the cut in stakes could cause countless outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had actually listened to those who desired the changes to come into impact quicker than April 2020 and "had agreed that the modifications need to be in location within the year - by October 2019".
In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would come into force next October at the very same time as modifications to responsibility charged on gambling companies based abroad but running in the UK.
The federal government states co-ordinating the date of the two changes would mean the government would not be hit by a fall in tax income.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
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The 43-year-old MP has actually 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 competent FA coach
Grammar school educated 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 standing for election
She had her first kid in 2016 and is believed to have actually been the very first Tory minister to take maternity leave
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But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson accused the federal government of "capitulating to the gambling industry".
He praised Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled decision" and said Jeremy Wright "ought to be completely embarrassed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over good".
MPs from all sides of your house joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it must be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
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He informed the BBC: "There are a lot of people whose lives have been damaged by this addiction ... We need to do this really quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong."
Labour has told the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to attempt and generate the modifications next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Hold-up' To Betting Crackdown
hersheljiron9 edited this page 2025-01-02 02:14:10 +00:00