1 Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Delay' To Betting Crackdown
sterlingdoyle0 edited this page 2024-12-31 22:35:10 +00:00


sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to sports betting crackdown
bit.ly
1 November 2018
bit.ly
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has actually resigned over "hold-ups" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds sports betting machines.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would come into force in October 2019.
bit.ly
Ms Crouch said 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 resigned however there had actually been "no hold-up in advancing this important step".

High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices

' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering devices'

sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
bet9ja.com
The federal government has rejected Labour claims that MPs had been led to believe the cut would enter into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had been intended to be introduced in April 2020.

But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch stated: "Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being delayed till October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with signed up interests.

This Twitter post can not be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or attempt a various browser.View initial material on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Skip twitter post by Tracey Crouch

Allow Twitter content?

This post includes material supplied by Twitter. We request your consent before anything is packed, as they might be using cookies and other innovations. You might want to check out Twitter's cookie policy, external and personal privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content pick 'accept and continue'.

Accept and continue

The BBC is not accountable for the content 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 machines.

"In addition, 2 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 included: "It is a fact of federal government that ministers must follow collective obligation and can not disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made versus your dreams relating to 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" including: "May God bless her commitment to doing right."

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "deserves big credit not simply for her project but for sticking up for her principles".

Fixed-odds sports betting terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in income a year for the wagering industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.

Currently, individuals can wager as much as ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates say the devices let gamers lose cash too rapidly, causing addiction and social, psychological and financial problems.

But bookmakers have cautioned the cut in stakes could lead to thousands of outlets closing.

In her response 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 need to remain in place within the year - by October 2019".

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 responsibility charged on gambling firms based abroad however operating in the UK.

The government states co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would suggest 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, since 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 certified FA coach

Grade school educated at Folkestone School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and politics from Hull University

She had worked for different Tory MPs, consisting of Michael Howard and David Davis before meaning election

She had her first kid in 2016 and is thought to have 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 gambling market".

He praised Ms Crouch's "courageous and principled choice" and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be completely embarrassed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over great".

MPs from all sides of your house joined in 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
bet9ja.com
He informed the BBC: "There are a lot of people whose lives have been harmed by this addiction ... We need to do this extremely quickly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming industry will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this delay. That's not right."

Labour has told the BBC that they will put down an amendment to the Finance Bill to try and bring in the modifications next April.
bet9ja.com