Young adults will face tougher gambling curbs amid concerns that they are less able to “regulate” their impulses and make rational decisions.

Under-25s will undergo “enhanced” checks on their finances and have stakes limited to a maximum of between £2 and £4 for online slot machines under the biggest overhaul of gambling legislation for a generation. They will also be asked to present identification before placing a bet.

Ministers believe that young men aged between 18 and 24 are at particularly high risk of becoming addicted, are less able to manage their finances and more vulnerable to peer pressure.

Gambling companies will also face a statutory levy, described as a “polluter pays” tax, which will be used to fund research and the treatment of