The law currently allows anyone above 16 to purchase a scratchcard, despite having to be 18 to bet online or in a casino.

Davies said: "We need to be very clear that gambling starts at 18. We are very clear where people are connected to their communities and they want to support causes in appropriate ways, it’s not to stop people from having fun, but it’s also to protect those most vulnerable people.

"We’ve done a gambling review. But that review is ongoing. It doesn’t mean we have stopped."