Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Delay' To Betting Crackdown

sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to wagering crackdown


1 November 2018


sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines.


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 stated pressing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of problem gamblers.


She tweeted: "Politicians come and go but concepts stay with us forever."


Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been "no hold-up in advancing this crucial step".


High stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers


' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting devices'




sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2


The government has actually denied Labour declares that MPs had been led to believe the cut would enter force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They suggested the cut had been intended to be presented in April 2020.


But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, application of these modifications are now being delayed until October 2019 due to dedications 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 reduce stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.


"In addition, two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, because of that as much as any other, I think this delay is unjustifiable."


She included: "It is a fact of government that ministers must stick to cumulative obligation and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your wishes associating with your own portfolio."


'God bless'


Among those praising her on social media, 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 "is worthy of huge credit not just for her project however for sticking up for her principles".


Fixed-odds sports betting terminals generate ₤ 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 approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the makers let players lose money too rapidly, resulting in addiction and social, psychological and financial problems.


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


In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the government had listened to those who wanted the modifications to come into effect earlier than April 2020 and "had actually concurred that the changes should remain in location within the year - by October 2019".


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


The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the two changes would suggest 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, given that 2010


She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015


She is understood for her opposition to fox searching and her love of football - she is a qualified 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, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election


She had her very first kid in 2016 and is believed to have actually 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 gambling market".


He praised Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "must be thoroughly embarrassed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over good".


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


Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill


He informed the BBC: "There are lots of people whose lives have actually been damaged by this addiction ... We require to do this really quickly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong."


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