sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to sports betting 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 devices.
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 said pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it might cost the lives of issue gamblers.
She tweeted: "Politicians come and go however concepts stick with us permanently."
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had actually been "no delay in bringing forward this essential step".
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices
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sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The government has actually denied Labour declares that MPs had been led to believe the cut would come into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had actually been meant to be introduced in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, implementation of these modifications are now being delayed till October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with registered interests.
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"From the time of the statement to lower stakes and its application, 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 think this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She included: "It is a reality of government that ministers need to stick to cumulative obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against your dreams connecting to your own portfolio."
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'God bless'
Among those praising her on social networks, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was "principled and brave" adding: "May God bless her commitment to doing right."
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "should have huge credit not simply for her project however for sticking up for her principles".
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, individuals can wager up to ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the machines let gamers lose money too rapidly, leading to addiction and social, psychological and financial problems.
But bookmakers have warned the cut in stakes might lead to thousands of outlets closing.
In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the federal government had actually listened to those who wanted the changes to come into than April 2020 and "had actually agreed that the modifications ought to remain in place within the year - by October 2019".
In his Budget on Monday, the chancellor said the modification to fixed-odds stakes would enter into force next October at the exact same time as modifications to duty charged on gambling companies based abroad however running in the UK.
The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would indicate the government would not be hit by a fall in tax profits.
Who is Tracey Crouch?
The 43-year-old MP has represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, since 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
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, including Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election
She had her first kid in 2016 and is believed to have actually 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 gambling industry".
He praised Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "should be completely embarrassed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over excellent".
MPs from all sides of the House took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it ought to be talked about as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He told the BBC: "There are plenty of people 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 sports betting market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this delay. That's not right."
Labour has actually told 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 'Hold-up' To Betting Crackdown
trudielwell233 edited this page 2024-12-31 06:24:53 +08:00