Sports Minister Tracey Crouch Resigns over 'Hold-up' To Betting Crackdown

Comments · 504 Views

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

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

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

1 November 2018


Sports minister Tracey Crouch has actually 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 force in October 2019.


Ms Crouch said pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it might cost the lives of problem gamblers.


She tweeted: "Politicians come and go however concepts stick with us permanently."


Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had actually been "no delay in advancing this crucial measure".


High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting devices


' I lost ₤ 250,000 on wagering makers'


sports betting maker stakes to be cut to ₤ 2

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

The government has rejected Labour declares that MPs had actually been led to believe the cut would enter 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, implementation of these changes are now being postponed until October 2019 due to dedications made by others to those with signed up interests.


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

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

Skip twitter post by Tracey Crouch

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

Allow Twitter material?


This post contains content provided by Twitter. We request for your authorization before anything is filled, as they may be utilizing cookies and other technologies. You might wish to read Twitter's cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this material pick 'accept and continue'.


Accept and continue


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.


End of twitter post by Tracey Crouch


"From the time of the statement to reduce stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.


"In addition, two individuals will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, because of that as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable."


She added: "It is a reality of federal government that ministers should abide by cumulative obligation and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your wishes associating with 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 brave" adding: "May God bless her dedication 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 produce ₤ 1.8 bn in income 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 video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling campaigners state the devices let gamers lose money too quickly, resulting in dependency and social, psychological and financial issues.

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

But bookmakers have alerted the cut in stakes might lead to countless outlets closing.


In her response to Ms Crouch, the PM stated the government had actually listened to those who desired the modifications to come into effect quicker than April 2020 and "had agreed that the changes must be in location 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 exact same time as modifications to duty charged on sports betting companies based abroad but operating in the UK.


The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the two changes would mean the government would not be struck by a fall in tax income.


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 known for her opposition to fox searching and her love of football - she is a qualified 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 numerous Tory MPs, including Michael Howard and David Davis before standing for election


She had her first child 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 sports betting market".


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


MPs from all sides of the House took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it needs to be gone over as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill


He told the BBC: "There are a lot 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 gaming industry will make about ₤ 1bn as an outcome of this delay. That's not ideal."


Labour has actually told the BBC that they will put down a modification to the Finance Bill to attempt and generate the changes next April.

Comments