X Factor’s James Arthur didn’t realise he’d racked up £300k gambling debt

X Factor star James Arthur has revealed he found himself in £300,000 debt due to gambling.

The 33-year-old singer, who won Simon Cowell’s singing competition in 2012, ‘didn’t realise’ he had got himself into financial trouble after betting on football matches.

James said that although he ‘didn’t have a gambling problem’, it was a ‘blessing’ when he was eventually banned from using mobile betting apps.

‘I was like £200… £300,000 in debt,’ he shared.

Attributing his money problems to his lifestyle, James continued: ‘Bit of gambling, bit of betting on football and sh*t. There were a few big bets.

‘I didn’t even realise I’d got myself in debt. It was my ­accountant saying, “You’re kinda in the red here”.’

James added to the Mirror that he was once winning so much money on one app that he was banned from using it altogether.

‘I got banned because I won so much money, they were, like, “We basically don’t want you on this app”.

‘I got kicked off. So I can’t go on any of the apps anymore because I won so much money.

‘It was kind of a blessing. It forced me not to gamble. I deleted all the apps.’

Earlier this month, James told Guilty Pleasures that he’s finally in the ‘best head space’ after overcoming suicidal thoughts.

He opened up about finding it easy to be honest about his demons on his latest track Medicine.

‘I’ve gone through really dark places in my life,’ James said. ‘If I am being true to myself, it’s always got to be a little bit autobiographical.

‘I just threw that in there because a lot of people can relate. Like they want to give up — I’ll always be honest with my songwriting.’

Detailing a particularly low patch last year, he revealed: ‘Just before I did the arena tour I had a choice — to go off to Texas to a rehabilitation centre that deals with trauma or turn my home into a rehab and have intensive therapy at home.’

He added that he has also checked into hospital ‘once or twice to just make sure I am doing all right’. Now, after landing a new record deal with Columbia, the former X Factor winner declared: ‘I’m in the best head space I have ever been.’

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