Gambling: Addict spent wedding night betting couple’s money

He added that marketing strategies and adverts from gambling companies were “particularly enticing” for people suffering financial hardship.

“You never see people lose money in those adverts. You’ll never see people experiencing harm. All you’ll ever see is people winning, people being excited and happy.”

Dr Torrance said Wales “desperately” needed NHS clinics dedicated to treating disordered gambling, which already exist in England.

“There’s no real difference between a disordered gambler in Wales and England other than the fact that they don’t have access to these clinics,” he said.

Conservative Member of the Senedd Darren Millar, who sits on the Senedd’s gambling related harm group, accused bookmakers of “driving and fuelling” addiction.

“It’s a well-known fact that, unfortunately, poorer communities tend to have a bigger problem with gambling,” he said.

“Regrettably many people in the bookmaking industry take advantage of that by placing their bookmakers in community centres in deprived areas.

“That of course is completely unacceptable.”

The BGC said its members had donated “£122.5m over four years” to tackle gambling-related harms.

A spokesman said about 22.5 million people a month gambled in Britain and “the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly”.

“Betting and gaming operators, like any other retailer, locate in areas of high footfall such as high streets, and play an important role in the local economy,” the BGC added.

The Welsh government said it was committed to “strengthening support for people affected by gambling addiction” and was working with the NHS to develop treatment services.

It also said it fully supported “comprehensive reform of the industry to increase regulation, and strengthen protection from harm”.

You can watch Elissa’s story on Wales Live on BBC iPlayer