The Betting and Gaming Council’s chief executive, Grainne Hurst, appeared before Westminster’s Treasury Select Committee in October, denying that gambling created “social harms”.
She added that potential tax hikes risked pushing punters towards “an unregulated black market”.
Philip McGuigan disagreed.
McGuigan told BBC News NI that he has first-hand experience with the addictive and “predatory” nature of online gambling.
“I have suffered at the hands of gambling harm, thankfully everyday now is a day in recovery.”
“There were times, for example when I self-excluded from sites but during that period I was receiving e-mails from the same sites encouraging me back in with free bets, with other types of incentives.
“We have seen that time and time again whether it’s through predatory advertising, predatory e-mails.”