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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown
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1 November 2018
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sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "hold-ups" 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 said pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of issue bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur however principles stick with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been "no delay in bringing forward this essential procedure".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering devices'
sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The government has actually denied Labour claims 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 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 statement to minimize stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.
"In addition, 2 individuals will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, for that reason as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable."
She added: "It is a truth of government that ministers need to comply with collective responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your desires relating to your own portfolio."
'God bless'
Among those praising 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 tweeted, external that she "is worthy of huge credit not simply for her campaign but for sticking up for her principles".
Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in revenue a year for the sports betting market, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the government.
Currently, people can wager approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the devices let players lose cash too quickly, causing addiction and social, psychological and financial issues.
But bookies have cautioned the cut in stakes might lead to thousands of outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the changes to come into impact 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 said the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter force next October at the very same time as changes to duty charged on sports betting firms based abroad but operating in the UK.
The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 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 actually 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 competent FA coach
Grade 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 representing election
She had her first child 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 implicated the government of "capitulating to the sports betting market".
He praised Ms Crouch's "brave and principled decision" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "must be completely ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over great".
MPs from all sides of the House took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it needs to be gone over as part of the Finance Bill later this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
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He told the BBC: "There are plenty of people whose lives have been harmed by this addiction ... We need to do this very quickly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That's not right."
Labour has informed the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the changes next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Delay' To Betting Crackdown
dollybouchard4 edited this page 2024-12-18 09:11:03 -06:00