Crouch had repeatedly said she would cut maximum stakes on the controversial gambling machines from £100 ($131/€115) to £2 ($2.60/€2.30)and make the change in April 2019. So she was furious when in the Budget Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed the change would not come in until October - causing outrage among campaigners and MPs, especially this very popular and able Minister.

In her resignation letter Crouch said by the time it takes force £1.6 billion ($2.10 billion/€1.85 billion) will be lost on the "cruel machines" - including in her own deprived Chatham constituency.

And "two people will tragically take their lives every day due to gambling related problems," she insisted.

"For that reason as much as any other I believe this delay is unjustifiable."

Crouch is believed to have clashed with her boss, Jeremy Wright, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, over the issue and in a  targeted attack on Tory colleagues, said the delay was prompted by "commitments made by others to those with registered interests" in the betting business.

Crouch said it was a "fact" that some MPs are "very interested in the bookmaking industry".

"There have been conversations that have taken place with many members of Parliament with different interests and, as I say, on this occasion, clearly I wasn't as persuasive as some of my other colleagues," she said.

"Politicians come and go but principles stay with us forever."

Fixed-odds betting terminals generate £1.8 billion ($2.40 billion/€2.10 billion) in revenue a year for the betting industry and taxes of £400 million for the Government.

Pointedly, Crouch’s decision came just before Responsible Gambling Week. According to the Gambling Commission there are 430,00 adult problem gamblers in the UK and 370,000 children aged 11 to 16 who gamble each week, with 25,000 of those classed as problem gamblers.

Sadly, sport and particularly football, is awash with vested interests from the gambling industry.

Crouch has worked effectively at the grass roots of sport and has not been afraid to speak candidly. In a BBC interview she  also voiced her disappointment that the proposed sale of Wembley Stadium had not materialised.

Shahid Khan, who owns Premier League club Fulham and National Football League (NFL) side the Jacksonville Jaguars, withdrew a £600 million ($785 million/€690 million) offer citing lack of support from English Football Association (FA) Council members.

Crouch said she hoped the deal could be resurrected to provide "opportunities to get a significant investment" into grassroots football.

She added the sale of the England national team stadium could also bring about the possibility of an NFL franchise in London and therefore a "£100 million ($131 million/€1150 million) per annum economic boost".

As she says, politicians, not least UK Sports Ministers, come and go and as she exits in comes at number 19 the relatively unknown Mims Davies who was previously an Assistant Government Whip.

First elected in May 2015, she moves to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport having been a Junior Minister in the Wales office.

Her views on gambling seem distinctly different from those of her predecessor. She will have responsibility for horse and greyhound racing, as well as gambling policy.

The latest register of members' interests reveals she was a guest of ITV at Royal Ascot this year.

Sport will miss Tracey Crouch. She arguably was the most qualified Sports Minister since Denis Howell, a Football League referee. A keen footballer herself - she holds an FA coaching certificate - she threw herself enthusiastically into the sports brief and was pretty good at her job.

What was unusual about her resignation was the unanimity of support for her. As one political commentator pointed out, it would not be cynical to speculate that she will have done herself no harm at all in the long run. She will be back, with the priceless asset of being a politician who believes in something.