S Club 7 star Jo O'Meara reveals she struggled with a gambling addiction
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S Club 7 singer Jo O'Meara has spoken out about her gambling addiction.
The star, 43, appeared on Thursday's Lorraine to talk about her compulsion to play fruit machines at the height of her fame with the pop group.
In her first TV interview since revealing she had a gambling problem when she was younger, Jo told host Lorraine, 'It became a bit of a thing. With the band, it was so busy and so hectic, I just used it as a bit of escapism to run away with myself for a little while'.
Struggle: Jo O'Meara has spoken out about her gambling addiction, appearing on Thursday's Lorraine to talk about her compulsion to play fruit machines at the height of her fame
Jo admitted: 'I got caught up in the flashing lights and getting the three sevens or leprechauns, or whatever it would be. It was just a bit too much fun.'
Lorraine asked if the band knew what was happening and Jo said, 'Yeah, they did. When we used to travel around the county, it was like, "Where's Jo?" Everyone would know - "Oh, she's on the fruit machines.' But it was just what I did."'
Lorraine then asked when she knew it was getting a bit much and Jo said, 'I don't think I ever did. When I look back I think, 'I shouldn't really have been doing that', because what you learn as you get older is you never win.'
Fame: In her first TV interview since revealing she had a gambling problem when she was younger, the S Club 7 star told host Lorraine, 'It became a bit of a thing' (pictured in 1999)
Jo went on to explain that her continuing to gamble wasn't about money, but the excitement of playing the machines.
She revealed, 'It was about beating the machine, getting the three sevens, the excitement of that was making me want to do it even more.'
Lorraine asked if she ever won and she said, 'You never win… that's why I'm here today, to highlight it because it's everywhere.'
Speaking out: Jo said, 'It's not real money is it? When you're pressing a button, it's so easy to fall into a very, very dark place'
Talking about how easy it is to gamble with mobile phones, Jo said, 'It's not real money is it? When you're pressing a button, it's so easy to fall into a very, very dark place… It could happen to anybody. I think there's still a big stigma to it, where people associate gambling with a man sitting in a betting place or a poker table.
'It's not the case at all. It's happening a lot more than it has before. I wanted to reach out to people and say, 'I've been there myself, I understand it, there's no shame in picking the phone up and asking for help.'
On how she got over her addiction, Jo said, 'I thought one day, 'That's it, I'm done.' I haven't looked at a machine once, but I understand it's not like that for everybody. You do get caught up in it. But there's help there.'
Pop star days: Lorraine asked if the band knew what was happening and Jo said, 'Everyone would know - "Oh, she's on the fruit machines.' But it was just what I did"'
Jo first spoke about her gambling problem in a video released this week in collaboration with GamCare to mark their 25th anniversary month.
The S Club 7 star joined forces with former England footballer Peter Shilton and his wife Steph Shilton to share a new film where they each opened up about their struggles with gambling to inspire others to seek help.
Jo commented: 'This will be the first time that I'm speaking about my past gambling issues, and I hope it helps to raise awareness about how common it can be.'
'Gambling issues don't discriminate, anyone can be affected regardless of age, gender or background and problems are only bound to increase with the use of smartphones and rise in cost of living.'
GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline on Freephone 0808 8020 133 or via web chat at www.gamcare.org.uk, providing information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling
In the past: On how she got over her addiction, Jo said, 'I thought one day, 'That's it, I'm done.' I haven't looked at a machine once (pictured in 1999)
