sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown


1 November 2018


sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "hold-ups" 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 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 concepts stick with us permanently."


Prime Minister Theresa May said she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had been "no hold-up in bringing forward this important measure".


High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines


' I lost _ 250,000 on sports betting makers'


sports betting machine stakes to be cut to _ 2


The government has actually rejected Labour claims 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 been intended to be presented in April 2020.


But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: "Unfortunately, implementation of these changes are now being postponed up until October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with registered interests.


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End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch


"From the time of the statement to minimize 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 delay is unjustifiable."


She added: "It is a reality of federal government that ministers need to follow collective duty and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your desires associating with your own portfolio."


'God bless'


Among those praising her on social networks, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted, external that she was "principled and brave" including: "May God bless her commitment to doing right."


Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "should have huge credit not just for her campaign but for sticking up for her concepts".


Fixed-odds wagering terminals generate _ 1.8 bn in earnings a year for the sports betting market, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of _ 400m for the government.


Currently, individuals can wager as much as _ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino video games such as live roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners say the makers let gamers lose cash too quickly, causing addiction and social, mental and monetary issues.


But bookmakers have cautioned the cut in stakes might cause thousands of outlets closing.


In her reaction to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had listened to those who desired the changes to come into impact earlier than April 2020 and "had actually agreed that the changes need to 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 modifications to responsibility charged on sports betting companies based abroad but operating in the UK.


The government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would suggest the federal government would not be hit by a fall in tax revenue.


Who is Tracey Crouch?


The 43-year-old MP has actually represented Chatham and Aylesford, in Kent, since 2010


She was promoted to the front bench as sports betting minister in 2015


She is known for her opposition to fox searching 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 kid in 2016 and is believed to have been the very first Tory minister to take maternity leave


But in the Commons on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson implicated the government of "capitulating to the gambling industry".


He applauded Ms Crouch's "brave and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "must be completely ashamed" of prioritising "corporate interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over great".


MPs from all sides of your house signed up with in his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it ought to be gone over as part of the Finance Bill later this month.


Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill


He informed the BBC: "There are plenty of people whose lives have been harmed by this addiction ... We need to do this really rapidly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting market will make about _ 1bn as an outcome of this delay. That's wrong."


Labour has actually informed the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to attempt and bring in the changes next April.