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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to wagering crackdown
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1 November 2018
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sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds wagering makers.
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 pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it might cost the lives of problem bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians reoccur but concepts stick with us permanently."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had actually been "no hold-up in bringing forward this crucial step".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers
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sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The government has actually denied Labour claims 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 meant to be introduced in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being postponed 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 lower stakes and its execution, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these devices.
"In addition, two people will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, because of that as much as any other, I believe this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She added: "It is a reality of government that ministers must follow cumulative obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your wishes connecting to your own portfolio."
'God bless'
Among those applauding her on social networks, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was "principled and courageous" adding: "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 however for sticking up for her principles".
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals generate ₤ 1.8 bn in earnings a year for the wagering industry, 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 casino video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the makers let cash too quickly, causing dependency and social, mental and financial problems.
But bookies have cautioned the cut in stakes could lead to thousands of outlets closing.
In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had listened to those who desired the modifications to come into impact quicker than April 2020 and "had actually concurred that the modifications need to remain in place 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 very same time as modifications to duty charged on gambling firms based abroad but operating in the UK.
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The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would imply the federal government would not be struck by a fall in tax profits.
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 known for her opposition to fox hunting and her love of football - she is a competent 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 worked for various 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 accused the government of "capitulating to the sports betting industry".
He applauded Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled decision" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "ought to be completely embarrassed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over great".
MPs from all sides of the House participated his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it needs to be discussed as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
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He told the BBC: "There are a lot of people whose lives have been harmed by this addiction ... We need to do this very rapidly, as rapidly as we can and in the meantime, the gambling market will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this hold-up. That's wrong."
Labour has told the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the changes next April.
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Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Hold up' To Betting Crackdown
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