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sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to wagering crackdown external page(Image: [[https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bet9ja-mobile-app-banner-1.png|https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bet9ja-mobile-app-banner-1.png)]]
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over “delays” to a crackdown on optimal stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers.
Chancellor Philip Hammond stated in Monday's Budget that the cut in stakes from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2 would come into force in October 2019.
Ms Crouch said pressing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it could cost the lives of issue bettors. (Image: [[https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bet9ja-mobile-app-banner-15.gif|https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bet9ja-mobile-app-banner-15.gif)]]
She tweeted: “Politicians come and go but principles stay with us permanently.”
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was disappointed Ms Crouch had actually resigned but there had actually been “no hold-up in advancing this important procedure”.
High stakes for fixed-odds sports betting makers (Image: [[https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bet9ja-mobile-registration-7.jpg|https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bet9ja-mobile-registration-7.jpg)]]
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting machines'
sports betting device stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The has actually denied Labour claims 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 actually been planned to be introduced in April 2020.
But in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: “Unfortunately, application of these changes are now being delayed until October 2019 due to dedications 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 decrease stakes and its implementation, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these machines.
“In addition, two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, for that reason as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable.” (Image: [[https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bet9ja-mobile-registration-20.jpg|https://www.yohaig.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bet9ja-mobile-registration-20.jpg)]]
She included: “It is a reality of government that ministers should adhere to collective responsibility 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 bold” adding: “May God bless her dedication to doing right.”
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she “is worthy of substantial credit not simply for her project however for sticking up for her principles”.
Fixed-odds sports betting terminals generate ₤ 1.8 bn in profits a year for the sports betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, external, and taxes of ₤ 400m for the federal government.
Currently, individuals can wager approximately ₤ 100 every 20 seconds on electronic gambling establishment video games such as roulette. Anti-gambling advocates state the devices let gamers lose cash too quickly, causing addiction and social, mental and monetary issues.
But bookies have warned the cut in stakes might cause 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 impact earlier than April 2020 and “had actually concurred that the modifications ought to be 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 very same time as changes to duty charged on gaming firms based abroad however running in the UK.
The government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 changes would imply the 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, 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
Grammar school educated at Folkestone School for Girls, she went on to get a degree in law and politics from Hull University
She had actually worked for various Tory MPs, including Michael Howard and David Davis before meaning election
She had her first child in 2016 and is believed to have been the 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 gaming industry”.
He praised Ms Crouch's “brave and principled choice” and said Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright “should be thoroughly embarrassed” of prioritising “business interests over victims, revenues over public health and greed over great”.
MPs from all sides of your house participated his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated it should be gone over as part of the Finance Bill later on this month.
Week ahead in Parliament: The Finance Bill
He informed the BBC: “There are a lot of individuals whose lives have been damaged by this addiction … We require to do this very rapidly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the gaming market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong.”
Labour has informed the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to try and generate the changes next April.
