The Sports and Civil Society Minister Tracey Crouch is considering a possible departure from her current role following the UK Government’s announcement that the planned reduction of fixed-odds betting terminals’ maximum stake will be delayed until October 2019, The Telegraph has revealed.
According to media reports, Ms. Crouch has not been satisfied with the delayed reduction in FOBT stakes to £2 which the Treasury revealed a few days ago. The Telegraph contacted her on Wednesday evening while she is on a visit to the US, and Minister Crouch did not rule out a resignation from her current position. Two people close to Ms. Crouch, who were left unnamed by The Telegraph, also confirmed that she is considering such a step.
As Casino Guardian reported earlier in 2018, the British Government officially revealed its decision to slash the maximum stakes allowed on controversial fixed-odds betting machines following increased criticism on the terminals and their addictive nature. FOBTs have been blamed for being one of the main reasons for the rising number of problem gamblers in the country, as well as for increasing crime rates and family breakdowns.
This clearly proves Jeremy Wright wrong when he says there's been no decision to delay the roll out of FOBT changes. Government all over the place on FOBTs https://t.co/r15MT6Wb4u
— Matt Dathan (@matt_dathan) November 1, 2018
Both Ms. Crouch and the Secretary of State for Health of the UK, Matthew Hancock, have backed the FOBT crackdown, so the delay of the stricter regime’s implementation has probably been disappointing to them.
FOBT Maximum Stake to Be Slashed in October 2019
As mentioned above, the official introduction of the new limits for FOBT maximum stakes of £2 will not be enacted until October 2019. Previously, it was revealed that the UK Government would probably give the industry a 12-month period to prepare for the necessary changes in the machines, which was set to come to an end in April 2019.
Unfortunately for anti-FOBT campaigners, however, the Government eventually decided to delay the long-discussed crackdown on the machines, giving six additional months to local high-street bookmakers to adapt to the changes. It became clear that gambling operators will have until October 2019 to make sure their gambling machines comply with the requirements and allow players to place a maximum bet of £2 instead of £100.
The Government’s decision unlocked nation-wide campaigners’ outrage, with them insisting for the promised changes to be brought in from April next year. This pledge, however, was rejected by Chancellor Philip Hammond.
Today I was able to voice my real concern about the delay in the FOBT stake reduction announced in yesterday's #Budget2018 especially as these machines are often found in the poorest sections of our society pic.twitter.com/CC7Q9KY7dC
— Alan Smith (@BishopStAlbans) October 30, 2018
Undoubtedly, a resignation of Ms. Crouch would be a severe blow for Prime Minister Theresa May. Unlike Minister Crouch and his predecessor Matt Hancock, however, the new Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright is believed to be less concerned with the reduction of FOBT stakes, especially considering the concerns shared by local bookmakers that a reduction too soon would damage the industry.
Previously, gambling operators have shared that reduced FOBT maximum stake would lead to massive layoffs and high-street betting shops closures across the sector. They have now been given some extra time to adjust to the change, which is expected to cost about £1.15 billion in reduced gaming duty over the first five years after the implementation of the new FOBT regime.
- Author
Daniel Williams
