Stephen Bunting has opened up about the darkest period of his career, revealing he accumulated £90,000 in gambling debts through online slot machines. The current world number ten admitted the addiction pushed him to the brink of quitting darts to seek regular employment.
The 41-year-old endured a torrid 2022, failing to reach a TV quarter-final and going no further than the quarters on the ProTour. As his confidence waned, his gambling spiraled out of control. "It was crazy. I was playing these online fruit machines and obviously you don't realise what you're doing," he told The Guardian. "It's only £1 a spin – but there were a lot of £1 spins."
The reality hit when his partner Keila saw the bank statements. "When Keila received the bank statement I thought: 'Oh no!' But I didn't realise how bad it was until she actually showed me. I was devastated. I've never, ever done that again," Bunting said. Confronted with his finances, he seriously considered leaving the sport. "I was on the internet and looking in job centres. I could work in retail or go and work back at the council. I couldn't cope any more."
Bunting, who previously worked delivering incontinence products to care homes in his early twenties, eventually turned his life around with help from a sports psychologist and hypnotherapist. He now uses that mental support regularly, sometimes twice a week before major tournaments. His best friend Drew, who works in a mortuary, also provided crucial support. "He's been a real support but I don't think I could do what he does. Being around dead people is not my idea of fun," Bunting joked.
From contemplating a return to the council to re-establishing himself among the world's elite, Bunting's candid admission highlights the brutal road he has walked to regain confidence and stability.
