Pizza Hut has been criticised for running a “dangerous” promotion that offered customers “free spins” at online casinos with their takeaway.

Online pizza orders were accompanied by a message congratulating customers for having “unlocked up to 300 free spins at your favourite casino”. The message continued: “No deposit required! Claim your spins today!”

Online casino games are associated with significantly higher rates of addiction than most other forms of gambling, according to multiple studies. The government recently acted to limit maximum stakes on such games to £5, or £2 for under-25s, a measure that will take effect next year.

The Pizza Hut promotion drew fury from campaigners including the former leader of the Conservative party, Iain Duncan Smith.