Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns Over Hold-up To Betting Crackdown
sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to crackdown
bet9ja.com
1 November 2018
bet9ja.com
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "hold-ups" to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices.
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 problem bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur but principles remain with us permanently."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had resigned however there had been "no delay in advancing this crucial procedure".
High stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting makers'
sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The government has actually denied Labour declares that MPs had been led to think the cut would enter into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had been meant to be presented in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being delayed until October 2019 due to dedications made by others to those with signed up interests.
This Twitter post can not be displayed in your browser. Please allow Javascript or attempt a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not accountable for the content of external websites.
Skip twitter post by Tracey Crouch
Allow Twitter content?
This short article consists of material provided by Twitter. We request for your authorization before anything is packed, as they might be utilizing cookies and other technologies. You may wish to check out Twitter's cookie policy, external and personal privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this material select 'accept and continue'.
Accept and continue
The BBC is not responsible for the material of external sites.
End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch
"From the time of the announcement to decrease stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.
"In addition, two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that factor as much as any other, I think this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She added: "It is a truth of government that ministers need to follow cumulative responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made versus your dreams connecting 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 bold" including: "May God bless her dedication to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "deserves big credit not just for her project but for sticking up for her concepts".
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals create ₤ 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 wager up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the machines let gamers lose money too rapidly, leading to addiction and social, mental and monetary issues.
But bookmakers have alerted the cut in stakes might lead to thousands of outlets closing.
In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had listened to those who wanted the changes to come into effect quicker than April 2020 and "had actually concurred that the changes ought to remain in location within the year - by October 2019".
bet9ja.com
In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the change to fixed-odds stakes would enter force next October at the same time as modifications 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 modifications would indicate the government would not be struck by a fall in tax revenue.
bet9ja.com
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 certified FA coach
Grammar 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 different Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election
She had her first child in 2016 and is thought to have been the first Tory minister to take maternity leave
But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson accused the federal government of "capitulating to the sports betting market".
He praised Ms Crouch's "brave and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "should be completely ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, earnings 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 must be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He informed the BBC: "There are plenty of individuals 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 gaming market 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 bring in the modifications next April.
bit.ly
