In a report publshed by the BBC (2 October) the National Problem Gambling Clinic (NPGC) said while 24% of its patients struggled with mobile gambling in 2012-13, this rose to 63% in 2016-17.

Software companies are working on apps to block gambling sites from the phones of problem gamblers.

A total of 632 gambling addicts were referred to the NHS clinic in 2012-13. This rose to 778 in 2016-17.