sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown
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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 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 principles stick with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been "no hold-up in bringing forward this essential step".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting devices'
sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The federal government has actually denied Labour claims that MPs had actually been led to believe the cut would enter force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had been planned to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, execution of these modifications are now being postponed up until 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 reduce stakes and its implementation, 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, because of that as much as any other, I think this delay is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a truth of government that ministers should follow collective obligation and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your desires 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 courageous" including: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "is worthy of substantial credit not just for her campaign but 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, individuals can bet up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the makers let gamers lose cash too quickly, leading to dependency and social, psychological and monetary problems.
But bookmakers have actually warned the cut in stakes might lead to thousands of outlets closing.
In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had listened to those who desired the modifications to come into effect quicker than April 2020 and "had agreed that the modifications 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 enter force next October at the very same time as changes to responsibility charged on sports betting firms based abroad however operating in the UK.
The government says co-ordinating the date of the two changes would suggest the federal government would not be struck 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 known for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a certified FA coach
Grade school informed at Folkestone School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and politics from Hull University
She had 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 very first Tory minister to take maternity leave
But in the 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 choice" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be thoroughly embarrassed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over excellent".
MPs from all sides of the House joined in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it ought to be gone over as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He told the BBC: "There are lots of individuals whose lives have actually been harmed by this dependency ... We require to do this extremely 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 wrong."
Labour has informed the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the changes next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Delay' To Betting Crackdown
adelefoust9579 edited this page 2025-01-01 06:35:39 +08:00