Former X Factor star Myles Stephenson, who was a member of boyband Rak-Su, revealed he was living ‘paycheque to paycheque’ as he battled a gambling addiction. Speaking to the Mail Online in October last year, the star said during his college years he was in a ‘dark place’ put himself into debt and asked a friend to lend him £800 after he blew all of his wages in the betting shop.
Myles said: “It was because of the gambling that I was living paycheque to paycheque. I was at the bookies with one of my friends, I lost all my money and I asked him for £800. And it wasn’t just to get by, it was to do more gambling. And I think I done an extra £100 in the bookies at the time, then went home and blew the other £700 on online slots,” he added.
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The star, who also appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2019, explained that when he was just 19 years old he wouldn’t eat because he would rather spend that money on using slot machines.
In fact, his addiction to gambling apps and slots started when he was a teenager but quickly spiralled when he admitted to bunking off school, during breaks and after, to go to betting shops alone.
Myles revealed that once he left sixth form, his addiction got even worse. However, at the time, his monthly earnings as a trainee recruitment consultant equalled just over £1k and, after paying rent to his parents, the majority then went to his slot obsession.
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It soon become the only thing he could think about, no matter what time of day. Myles then revealed that he thankfully found the road to recovery but still couldn’t admit the problem to many friends and family. Miles said one thing that helped would be starting work early so he wouldn’t drive past an open bookies and he would drive a friend home for the same reason.
Nowadays, Myles shares two children, Sahara and Shiloh with Keli Hall.
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He said: “I think the only thing that would have made it an awkward conversation when I was younger was my ego and my self-pride, but now I have a brilliant life.
“I don’t want my son gambling behind my back. I don’t want my daughter gambling behind my back and coming home from sixth form and losing their money or going to university and blowing their grant.”
GamCare are the charity who operate the National Gambling Helpline on Freephone 0808 8020 133 or via web chat at www.gamcare.org.uk, providing information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms, funded by GambleAware. Advisers are available 24/7, every day of the year