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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tory rebellion over fixed-odds betting terminals | Tory rebellion over fixed-odds betting terminals |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The government is facing a rebellion over when a crackdown on fixed-odds gambling machines is introduced. | The government is facing a rebellion over when a crackdown on fixed-odds gambling machines is introduced. |
| Ministers have promised to cut the maximum stake from £100 to £2 in October 2019 - but some MPs are calling for it to happen sooner. | Ministers have promised to cut the maximum stake from £100 to £2 in October 2019 - but some MPs are calling for it to happen sooner. |
| More than 20 Conservatives have joined opposition politicians in trying to bring the change forward to April 2019. | More than 20 Conservatives have joined opposition politicians in trying to bring the change forward to April 2019. |
| They backed an amendment to the Finance Bill, which was tabled on Monday evening. | |
| The government said it had consulted widely and considered "all of the evidence" before making its decision on a timeframe. | The government said it had consulted widely and considered "all of the evidence" before making its decision on a timeframe. |
| It has denied that MPs were led to believe the cut in the maximum stake would come into force in April - but the timing, announced in last month's Budget, has been criticised, with Sports Minister Tracey Crouch resigning in protest. | It has denied that MPs were led to believe the cut in the maximum stake would come into force in April - but the timing, announced in last month's Budget, has been criticised, with Sports Minister Tracey Crouch resigning in protest. |
| The Finance Bill is the legislation that puts the proposals outlined in the Budget into law. | The Finance Bill is the legislation that puts the proposals outlined in the Budget into law. |
| Senior Tories Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis and Justine Greening have backed the amendment, along with four DUP MPs. | |
| Currently, people can bet up to £100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. | Currently, people can bet up to £100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games such as roulette. |
| Anti-gambling campaigners say the machines let players lose money too quickly, leading to addiction and social, mental and financial problems. | Anti-gambling campaigners say the machines let players lose money too quickly, leading to addiction and social, mental and financial problems. |
| But bookmakers have warned the cut in stakes could lead to thousands of outlets closing. | But bookmakers have warned the cut in stakes could lead to thousands of outlets closing. |
| 'Extreme losses' | 'Extreme losses' |
| Labour's Carolyn Harris, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on fixed-odds betting terminals, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the MPs were trying to "force the government into doing the right thing". | Labour's Carolyn Harris, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on fixed-odds betting terminals, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the MPs were trying to "force the government into doing the right thing". |
| The Welsh Labour deputy leader said there was a "very realistic chance" that MPs would back bringing in the cut to April 2019 when they discuss the Finance Bill. | The Welsh Labour deputy leader said there was a "very realistic chance" that MPs would back bringing in the cut to April 2019 when they discuss the Finance Bill. |
| "There's a huge feeling in the House that this is the wrong decision and we need to implement it as a matter of urgency," she added. | "There's a huge feeling in the House that this is the wrong decision and we need to implement it as a matter of urgency," she added. |
| The government said it was making "a significant change that will help stop extreme losses and protect the most vulnerable in our society". | The government said it was making "a significant change that will help stop extreme losses and protect the most vulnerable in our society". |
| The amendment will be voted on next week. |