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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown
1 November 2018
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sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices.
Chancellor Philip Hammond stated 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 might cost the lives of issue gamblers.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur however principles stick with us forever."
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned however there had been "no hold-up in advancing this essential step".
High stakes for fixed-odds wagering devices
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering devices'
sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The federal government has denied Labour declares that MPs had actually been led to believe 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 introduced in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being delayed 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 devices.
"In addition, two individuals will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems 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 should comply with collective obligation and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your desires 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 bold" adding: "May God bless her commitment to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "should have big credit not simply for her project but for sticking up for her principles".
Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in profits a year for the sports betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.
Currently, people can wager as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the machines let gamers lose cash too rapidly, resulting in dependency and social, mental and financial issues.
But bookies have cautioned the cut in stakes could cause thousands of outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM said the government had listened to those who desired the changes to come into impact faster than April 2020 and "had concurred that the modifications should remain in location within the year - by October 2019".
In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor stated the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as modifications to duty charged on gambling firms based abroad but operating in the UK.
The government states co-ordinating the date of the two changes would suggest the federal government would not be hit by a fall in tax earnings.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
The 43-year-old MP has actually represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, because 2010
She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015
She is understood for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a qualified 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 actually worked for numerous Tory MPs, including Michael Howard and David Davis before meaning election
She had her first child in 2016 and is believed to have been the very first Tory minister to take maternity leave
But in the on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson implicated the government of "capitulating to the sports betting industry".
He praised Ms Crouch's "bold and principled decision" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "should be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, earnings over public health and greed over excellent".
MPs from all sides of your house participated his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it needs to be discussed 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 actually been harmed by this addiction ... We require to do this really rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting industry will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That's not best."
Labour has actually informed the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to try and generate the modifications next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Delay' To Betting Crackdown
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