The Government's gambling reforms are ‘vague' and ‘disappointing', according to the representative body for directors of public health.

Reforms include a mandatory levy on betting firms to pay for treatment of addiction, new player protection checks and stake limits for online slots, with the Gambling Commission to be given extra powers.

However, the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) urged the Government to ‘up the ante'.

ADPH vice president Greg Fell said: ‘It is very disappointing that the Government has largely ignored the advice of public health experts in developing these proposals.

‘Instead of looking to target individual gamblers, we need to look at the role that society and the gambling industry is playing in causing gambling harm and taking steps to limit it.

'What's needed is a comprehensive ban on all forms of marketing across multiple media and community channels.'