Darts Star Stephen Bunting Reveals £90,000 Gambling Debt

Stephen Bunting, currently ranked world number 10 by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), has made headlines with a courageous confession. The 41-year-old Liverpool-born professional revealed the dark side of his career in an interview with The Guardian and in his book Bulletproof. During a period of poor form, he turned to online fruit machines, a habit that nearly cost him his entire livelihood.

The scale of his problem only became clear when his partner, Keila, checked their bank statements and discovered the extent of the losses. By that time, Bunting had racked up £90,000 (approx. €104,850) in debt. These losses accumulated through seemingly small stakes of just £1 per spin, but the high frequency and loss of control led to an unstoppable downward spiral.

Numbers and facts

Bunting describes vividly how the addiction dominated his daily life. He gambled in secret and tried to hide the financial void from those around him. It was only the shock of his partner's discovery that led to a change in his behavior. At that point, the mental strain was so severe that he considered quitting darts entirely and looking for regular employment through job centers. He contemplated returning to retail or working for the local council, where he had been employed previously.

“It was crazy. I was playing these online fruit machines and obviously you don’t realise what you’re doing. It’s only £1 a spin – but there were a lot of £1 spins. 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.” - Stephen Bunting, PDC Darts Player

Adding to the controversy is the fact that Bunting has entered into partnerships with companies in the extended gambling sector despite this history. In February 2025, he secured a deal with Stealth Competitions, a prize draw operator. This was followed by a partnership with Diamond Draws Competitions. His jersey has also displayed logos from major brands such as Betfred, BetMGM, bet365, and Paddy Power, who serve as title sponsors for PDC tournaments.

Background

The debate centers on whether athletes with a history of addiction should promote products that closely resemble gambling. In the UK, prize draw operators are not legally classified as gambling businesses, even though customer behavior is often identical. Furthermore, a study from the University of Southern California shows that the legalization of online sports betting in US states like Ohio led to a 9 percent increase in personal bankruptcies. This underscores the global relevance of player protection issues.

Bunting himself views his current situation as stable. He describes gambling as a disease that reflected his mental state at the time. Today, he says his impulses are under control, occasionally placing small bets on horse racing as a treat rather than a compulsion. However, it took years to pay off the debts he accumulated while simultaneously working with a sports psychologist and a hypnotherapist to return to the top of the sport.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, Bunting's case serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of online slots without effective limits. In Germany, the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) established a strict framework to prevent cases like Bunting's. The cross-operator deposit limit of €1,000 per month, monitored via the LUGAS system, ensures that players do not spend beyond their means. Had such a system been in place in the UK earlier, accumulating £90,000 in debt through £1 spins would have been nearly impossible. German players are also encouraged to use the panic button and the OASIS exclusion database if they feel their gaming is becoming a burden. Transparency regarding losses is legally mandated in the German licensed market through monthly statements.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Casinos licensed by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) must meet rigorous player protection requirements. This includes a ban on autoplay and a mandatory five-second delay between spins on slots. These measures significantly slow down the pace of play and prevent the rapid-fire accumulation of losses described by Bunting. Furthermore, GGL-licensed operators are prohibited from using misleading advertising that suggests gambling is a solution to financial problems. For operators, the openness of stars like Bunting means increased regulatory focus on sponsorship activities. In Germany, the separation of sports idols and direct casino advertising is already much more strictly regulated than in the United Kingdom.