sports betting Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'hold-up' to sports betting crackdown
1 November 2018
sports betting minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over "delays" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds sports betting 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 stated pushing back the date was "unjustifiable" and it could cost the lives of issue bettors.
She tweeted: "Politicians come and go however principles stick with us permanently."
Prime Minister Theresa May stated she was dissatisfied Ms Crouch had resigned but there had been "no hold-up in advancing this important measure".
High stakes for fixed-odds wagering machines
' I lost ₤ 250,000 on sports betting devices'
sports betting machine stakes to be cut to ₤ 2
The government has rejected Labour claims that MPs had actually been led to think the cut would come into force at the start of the next tax year, in April 2019. They recommended the cut had actually 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 until October 2019 due to commitments 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 minimize stakes and its application, over ₤ 1.6 bn will be lost on these makers.
"In addition, 2 individuals will unfortunately take their lives every day due to gambling-related issues and, for that reason as much as any other, I think this hold-up is unjustifiable."
She added: "It is a reality of federal government that ministers should follow cumulative responsibility and can not disagree with policy, not to mention when it is policy made against your desires connecting 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" adding: "May God bless her commitment to doing right."

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted, external that she "is worthy of huge credit not simply for her project but for sticking up for her concepts".
Fixed-odds wagering terminals produce ₤ 1.8 bn in income a year for the wagering market, 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 state the machines let gamers lose cash too quickly, leading to dependency and social, mental and monetary problems.
But bookmakers have warned the cut in stakes might result in countless outlets closing.
In her action to Ms Crouch, the PM said the federal government had listened to those who desired the modifications to come into impact sooner than April 2020 and "had actually agreed that the modifications 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 same time as changes to task charged on gaming companies based abroad but operating in the UK.
The federal government says co-ordinating the date of the 2 modifications would suggest 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 hunting and her love of football - she is a certified 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 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 actually been the 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 sports betting industry".
He applauded Ms Crouch's "brave and principled decision" and stated Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright "need to be thoroughly ashamed" of prioritising "business interests over victims, profits over public health and greed over good".
MPs from all sides of your home took part his criticism. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it ought to 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 people whose lives have been harmed by this addiction ... We require to do this extremely quickly, as quickly as we can and in the meantime, the sports betting market will make about ₤ 1bn as a result of this hold-up. That's wrong."
Labour has actually informed the BBC that they will put down a change to the Finance Bill to attempt and generate the modifications next April.