Bunting opens up on £90,000 gambling debts and darkest career days

STEPHEN BUNTING has revealed he racked up £90,000 in gambling DEBTS before reaching the point where he considered giving up darts.

The World No9 has opened up on the darkest period of his career and admitted he was left devastated after his partner Keila showed him the extent of his losses.

Bunting, 41, endured a difficult 2022 as he failed to reach a big-stage quarter-final and missed out on a ProTour semi-final throughout the year.

The Liverpudlian had fallen so low that he began looking at job opportunities away from darts.

He told the Guardian: “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 [his partner] 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.

“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 had previously distributed incontinence pads to care homes in his early 20s.

He added: “I jokingly said it was a shit job but it was good. I was surrounded by nice people.”

Former Masters champ Bunting eventually began to rebuild his confidence with the help of a sports psychologist and a hypnotherapist five years ago.

The Bullet still uses it to this day, particularly when preparing for major events.

He continued: “Sometimes twice a week if I’m going into a big tournament, or if things have not gone my way.”

Bunting also paid tribute to his best friend Drew, who works in a morgue and supported him through some of his biggest struggles.

He said: “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.”

Asked if the pair often discuss Drew’s unusual job, Bunting responded: “Very rarely. He’ll just say how cold it is in the room or how many dead people are in it.”

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Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning