Gambling advertising firms could use GPS to target “vulnerable” customers with offers, experts have warned. Firms could use location services to link a customer with ongoing events and send them targeted alerts.

The technology raises the prospect of attendees at a football match being sent push notifications encouraging them to bet on the game they are watching. Charity GambleAware said that companies “have the ability to collect significant amounts of customer data, including their location”.

“While some progress is being made to use customer data to identify and minimize gambling-related harm, much more needs to be done to tackle unacceptable marketing and advertising,” said Marc Etches, the organization’s CEO.

Dr Mark Griffiths, distinguished professor of behavioral addiction and director of the international gaming research unit at Nottingham Trent University said that he had “no doubt that such a practice exists and is being used”, having first predicted it 11 years ago.

More about gambling advertising at the Telegraph