Former X Factor winner Myles Stephenson (pictured center) has opened up about his struggles with gambling when he was younger. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

A downward spiral

Gambling addiction is a widespread issue across the UK, particularly among younger people. Now, 2017 X Factor winner Myles Stephenson has revealed some of his own struggles with it. The singer – one part of the band Rak-Su – was promoting his new partnership with the GamCare charity as he described how he was in a “really dark place” between the ages of 18 and 21 years old.

started out as some casual fun among friends when he was in school

He said he would go to retail sportsbooks before, during, and after the work day, while also playing online slots on his commute. What started out as some casual fun among friends when he was in school started to turn into a problem. The 32-year-old began to spiral out of control when he ramped up the mobile gameplay and was losing hundreds of pounds.

Easy access

The R&B singer said the easy access that people have to gamble through their phones means that they can spend money anywhere no matter what they might be doing. He believes that the design of slot games also often makes people feel like they are playing a video game rather than spending real money.

A turning point for the music star came when he lost £1,600 ($1,933) in 45 minutes one night at a London casino. He had borrowed half of the sum from a friend as he attempted to chase his losses. Stephenson eventually managed to get to grips with his struggles by setting up barriers and systems to decrease his accessibility to gambling.

3/5 people who contact its helpline identify online slots as their main struggling point

GamCare recently reported that 3/5 people who contact its helpline identify online slots as their main struggling point. The UK government is currently working on a proposal to significantly curtail the max stakes on these types of games as part of its white paper on the Gambling Act 2005.

Resolving the issue

Stephenson ultimately self-excluded from online platforms and went into the office at such an early hour that retail sportsbooks were not yet open. He would stay in the office during lunch and would carpool home from work to make sure that he didn’t stop at one of the six or seven sportsbooks that he would pass on the journey.  

Stephenson said he is delighted to take part in GamCare’s new campaign. The charity provides a variety of support tools for problem gamblers, including a 24/7 telephone helpline, live chat, and other messaging options. It also offers a tremendous range of resources for people who are looking to control their gambling, including awareness workshops and helping with the treatment of addicts.

Stephenson was a winner of the 14th X Factor series alongside his fellow group members. Rak-Su was the very first male group crowned as the show’s winner.