X Factor winner Myles Stephenson opens up about gambling losses

Singer Myles Stephenson battled with a gambling addiction for several years

X Factor winner Myles Stephenson said he went to a "really dark place" after losing "a ridiculous amount of money" gambling.

The singer, a member of R&B act Rak-Su, said he had problems between the ages of 18 and 21 and would visit betting shops at 07:00 on his way to work.

The 32-year-old said the habit started small by playing with friends but grew.

Stephenson has now teamed up with charity GamCare and said no-one should have to suffer alone.

Myles Stephenson (centre) said his addiction started before he was in Rak-Su

Speaking to BBC presenter Angelle Joseph, he said his habit started before he was in Rak-Su.

"When I started working it would be on the way to work," he said.

"On my phone and online slots and that's when it started to become an issue and it progressed more into an addiction."

Stephenson said his addiction developed in part because "you can do it anywhere, on a bus or a toilet, you can do it anywhere in the world".

He started to spend "hundreds of pounds" and said this was when things started to "turn into a dark, dark place".

"All I have to do is think back to me losing a ridiculous amount of money at the age of 18, all the way up to 21/22."

'I had to put things in place'

Stephenson was able to turn his life around by blocking gambling websites from his phone and dropping a work colleague at their home to prevent himself going to betting shops.

"They're the things I put in place to get my addiction off gambling and until this day, I haven't been back inside a bookmaker, and I am still blocked on all gambling websites."

He partnered with GamCare, which offers support via calls, messages and online chat.

"When they approached me and my management and proposed this campaign it got me asking questions of what I can do," he said.

"They gave me a platform to speak on and give people with gambling issues a way to seek help."

The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating gambling and supervising gaming law.

Its spokesperson said: "All operators are required to be on the lookout for potential signs of gambling-related harm such as spending large amounts of money or time gambling.

"We take tough action against operators who fail to follow our rules and since April last year, 31 gambling businesses have paid out a total of £67.8m because of regulatory failures."

• If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.