Scarlett Moffatt's mum Betty 'took tens of thousands of pounds from account to fund gambling habit'
Betty's online gambling habit spiralled out of control and she lost 'thousands every week' from Scarlett's account. Betty took money from the account in 'sheer desperation' and left Scarlett 'horrified' when she didn't win the money back. Scarlett is now helping Betty get therapy. The family left Gogglebox in 2016 after Scarlett appeared on I'm A Celebrity and won. Scarlett was paid £240,000 dividend in October 2020. She also paid off her parents' mortgage. In 2019, the Moffatts took part in a controversial TV show called The British Tribe Next Door.
In 2019-20 financial year, the UK gambling industry raked in £14.3billion. High-profile cases of gambling addiction highlight the plight of the 'problem gamblers' in the country. Scarlett Moffatt's mother took tens of thousands from her to fund her habit. Paul Merson has previously admitted his betting was 'out of control' and described his urge to bet as 'relentless'. i'm a Celebrity and Gogglebox star Scarlett helped her mother Betty get therapy after her online gambling habit 'spiralled out ofcontrol' during lockdown.
There is a growing concern about an increase in online gambling. Last month, a report described gambling addiction as an urgent public health issue. The report reviewed existing evidence for what works to reduce the harm to individuals and communities as a result of gambling and found that the services that successfully reduced the harms caused by smoking and drinking were not developed for gambling, which is considered a public-health issue as well. Dr Niall Campbell, an addiction expert at the Priory's Roehampton Hospital, told MailOnline that he is seeing an increasing number of patients with gambling addictions under lockdown.
Betty Moffatt took tens of thousands of pounds from account to fund gambling habit. National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133.