By Gavin Mackintosh And Lucy Caulkett-
Sports minister Tracey Crouch should be hailed for her resignation over delays to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds betting machines.
Ms Crouch’s resignation was in protest against the continuation of maximum gambling stakes of up to £100. Chancellor Philip Hammond declaration in Monday’s Budget to cut the stakes from £100 to £2 as from October 2019 was unsatisfactory for Ms Crouch.
Ms Crouch said pushing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it could cost the lives of problem gamblers. in her resignation letter, Ms Crouch said: “Unfortunately, implementation of these changes are now being delayed until October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with registered interests
“From the time of the announcement to reduce stakes and its implementation, over £1.6bn will be lost on these machines.
“In addition, two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling-related problems and, for that reason as much as any other, I believe this delay is unjustifiable.”
She added: “It is a fact of government that ministers must adhere to collective responsibility and cannot disagree with policy, let alone when it is policy made against
The Gambling Commission has confirmed that fixed-odds betting terminals generate £1.8bn in revenue a year for the betting industry and taxes of £400m for the government. Bets of up to £100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. In May, the then Culture Secretary Matt Hancock described fixed-odds betting machines as a “very serious social blight”.
Yesterday, Wednesday, The Eye Of Media.Com revealed the serious failing in the British Gambling Commission which have no anti discrimination policies in its licensing conditions. We found that discrimination of all kinds occur in many casinos across the country, including racial discrimination. Ethics appear to very low in casinos. Last month, The Gambling Commission fined The Rank Group £500,000 after attempted to reinstate a gambler who had lost £1m of gambling winnings which he won that same day.
Crouch, a parliamentary researcher from 1996 to 1998 before working in Public Relation was an outstanding parliamentarian. She worked for Harcourt Public Affairs from 1999 to 2000. On her return to Westminster, she held posts as chief of staff to three shadow ministers. She is a vice chair of the All Parliamentary group on dementia, alcoholic abuse, and athletics. She is a
Gambling can be a leisurely activity, but it ruins the lives of individuals and families. Ms Couch should be hailed for her integrity and high principles. There is no justifiable reason why a decision to cut the stakes from £100 to £2 should be delayed until 2019, given the devastating effects it can and does have on people’s lives.