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Stephen Bunting faces criticism over prize draw brand deals

Darts star Stephen Bunting is facing backlash for promoting prize draw companies after opening up about his past battle with a severe gambling addiction.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 9 September 2026

Professional darts player Stephen Bunting has faced criticism from fans after signing sponsorship deals with prize draw companies. The world number 10 recently spoke about his past struggles with online gambling which left him with massive debts. He revealed that he hid his addiction from his family while racking up a 90,000 pound bill on virtual slot machines.

Past gambling struggles

Bunting explained that his betting began during a difficult period when he was struggling with his form on the dartboard. He described the activity as a compulsion that he used to cope with depression. Although he still has an occasional bet on horse racing, he insists his relationship with gambling is now fully under control.

Despite these revelations, the player has angered some fans by promoting businesses that offer paid prize draws. In early 2025 Bunting signed a deal with Stealth Competitions to act as a brand partner. He has since partnered with Diamond Draws Competitions and promoted a discount code on his social media accounts.

Concerns over promotions

Prize draw companies are not legally classified as gambling operators in the United Kingdom. However, charities have raised concerns that people use these platforms in the exact same way as traditional betting products. Many of these operators have recently signed a voluntary code of conduct to help prevent harm to vulnerable people.

Bunting has also worn the logos of major bookmakers on his shirts during tournaments this year. These sponsors include Betfred, BetMGM, bet365 and Paddy Power. While these logos were worn due to official tournament sponsorship rules, his personal deals with prize draw firms continue to draw criticism from fans.