Scarlett Moffatt’s mum Betty ‘took tens of thousands of pounds from account to fund gambling habit’
Scarlett Moffatt’s mother Betty ‘took tens of thousands of pounds from her daughter’s account to fund her out of control gambling habit… with the star now helping her mum get therapy’
- The Gogglebox star, 30, was reportedly left ‘betrayed and confused’ after her mother allegedly took ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ from her account
- Scarlett is now said to have helped her mother, Betty, get therapy after her online gambling habit ‘spiralled out of control’ during lockdown
- Betty, who has been working for Scarlett since her 2016 I’m A Celebrity win, is said to have become ‘desperate’ after losing ‘thousands every week’
- Scarlett is reportedly hoping to ‘help others in a similar position’ with Betty ‘determined to come out the other side’ with therapy
- A representative for Scarlett declined to comment when approached by MailOnline for comment
- Betty found fame with Scarlett and her father Mark when they were all cast members on Gogglebox, they left in 2016
- ***If you have been affected by this story, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133***
Scarlett Moffatt has reportedly helped her mother, Betty, get therapy after her online gambling habit ‘spiralled out of control’ during lockdown.
According to new reports, the Gogglebox star, 30, was left ‘betrayed and confused’ after her mother allegedly took ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ from her account.
Betty, who has been working for Scarlett since her 2016 I’m A Celebrity win, is said to have become ‘desperate and panicky’ after losing ‘thousands every week’ from her online gambling habit.
Claims: Scarlett Moffatt has reportedly helped her mother, Betty, get therapy after her online gambling habit ‘spiralled out of control’ during lockdown (pictured in 2018)
And in ‘sheer desperation’, Betty allegedly took ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ from Scarlett’s account with the hopes of winning it back.
Yet when Betty reportedly never won the cash back, Scarlett was left ‘horrified’ to discover her account was missing money.
The reality star was said to be ‘betrayed and confused’ but is now supporting her mother and helping her get therapy with the whole family, including Scarlett’s father, Mark, giving Betty the ’emotional and physical support she needs’.
A source told The Sun that it’s been a ‘traumatic few months’, they added: ‘She was losing thousands every week, and became desperate and panicky. In sheer desperation, she took money from Scarlett’s account.
‘Confused’: According to new reports, the Gogglebox star, 30, was left ‘betrayed and confused’ after her mother allegedly took ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ from her account (pictured in February 2020)
‘Panicky’: Betty, who has been working for Scarlett since her 2016 I’m A Celebrity win, is said to have become ‘desperate and panicky’ after losing ‘thousands every week’ from her online gambling habit (pictured on Gogglebox with Scarlett and her husband Mark)
‘But she obviously always thought she would win it back, and be able to repay her. Of course, she never did win the money and the next thing she knew, Scarlett realised her account was missing tens of thousands, and was horrified.’
The source continued: ‘But once Betty broke down and explained what had happened Scarlett couldn’t have been more supportive.’
They added that the whole family has given Betty the ’emotional and physical support she needs.’
While Scarlett is reportedly hoping to ‘help others in a similar position’ with Betty ‘determined to come out the other side’.
Allegations: And in ‘sheer desperation’, Betty allegedly took ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ from Scarlett’s account with the hopes of winning it back (pictured in 2019)
A representative for Scarlett declined to comment when approached by MailOnline for comment.
Betty found fame with Scarlett, her younger sister Ava, 14, and their father Mark when they were all castmembers on Gogglebox.
The family left the Channel 4 show in 2016 after Scarlett appeared on, and later won, I’m A Celebrity. She went on to co-host Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity’s Extra Camp.
Family: The reality star was said to be left ‘betrayed’ but is now supporting her mother and helping her get therapy with the whole family, including Scarlett’s father, Mark, giving Betty the ’emotional and physical support she needs’ (pictured in 2019)
At the time, Scarlett was reportedly set to rake in millions and in October 2020 it was claimed that the star paid herself a ‘£240,000 dividend’.
During her time on I’m A Celebrity, Scarlett revealed that she had been able to pay off her parents’ mortgage.
She told her fellow campmates: ‘I paid off the mortgage on my mum and dad’s house for them.
‘I just wrote them a letter and said, thanks for being mint, and sorry for leaving fake tan all over the house, and then I put a cheque in for them.’
Family: The whole family has reportedly given Betty the ’emotional and physical support she needs’ (pictured together with Scarlett’s younger sister Ava, 14, in August)
In 2019, the Moffatts took part in a controversial TV show called The British Tribe Next Door, where they lived alongside the Himba community in a Namibian tribal village.
More recently, in August, Scarlett surprised her mother Betty with a family get together for her 50th birthday.
The TV presenter went all out for her mother’s special day with the help of her father Mark and her younger sister Ava, 14.
With coronavirus restrictions still in place at the time, the family could only have 30 people over to celebrate with, with Scarlett making the most of the day with an inflatable pop-up pub in the garden.
Fame: Betty found fame with Scarlett, her younger sister Ava, 14, and their father Mark when they were all castmembers on Gogglebox, they left in 2016 to pursue new TV projects
Controversial: In 2019, the Moffatts took part in a controversial TV show called The British Tribe Next Door, where they lived alongside the Himba community in a Namibian tribal village
While in December, Scarlett shared a first look at the new home she is building, after selling her County Durham abode for £395,000 one week after putting in on the market.
The TV personality took to Instagram to give her fans a closer look at the building works that are taking place in the house she has moved into with boyfriend Scott Dobinson.
Showing off her spacious kitchen, the renovations in Scarlett’s dream home seemed to be coming along nicely as a large island and kitchen cabinets had already been put in place.
Surprise: More recently, in August, Scarlett surprised her mother Betty with a family get together for her 50th birthday
Exciting: While in December, Scarlett shared a first look at the new home she is building, after selling her County Durham home for £395,000 one week after putting in on the market (pictured with boyfriend Scott Dobinson)
Scarlett sold her luxury five-bedroom County Durham home last month, she purchased the swanky abode back in 2017, months after winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.
The star told how she wouldn’t be moving too far in an Instagram post, writing: ‘Me and Scott are off on an adventure (10 miles away) so our beautiful home is now for sale.’
The TV star is reported to have purchased the property for £300,000, and so is said to have made an impressive profit when it was sold.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Looking good: Showing off her spacious kitchen, the renovations in her dream home seemed to be coming along nicely as a large island and kitchen cabinets had already been put in place
The ever-changing industry which last year raked in £14.3billion pounds
By James Robinson for MailOnline
The thrill of the win, the flashing lights and the catchy music can all create a powerful lure – but as the old saying goes: ‘The house always wins’.
In fact, the UK Gambling industry doesn’t just win, it wins big every single year.
In 2019-2020, firms raked in more than £14.3billion, according to UK regulator the Gambling Commission,
But like most industries, it is rapidly changing.
The £14.3billion figure, known as Gross Gambling Yield – the amount retained by gambling operators after the payment of winnings but before the deduction of operation costs – is half-a-per cent down on the year before.
But while the total figure is down, online gambling profits actually rose by 4.3 per cent.
According to the Gambling Commission, approximately 11 million had gambled online in 2019-20 – up 3 per cent since December 2018
In 2019-2020, firms raked in more than £14.3billion, according to UK regulator the Gambling Commission
The number of people gambling online is also on the increase. Approximately 11 million had gambled online in 2019-20 – up 3 per cent since December 2018
Of those, half used their mobile phone to gamble – increase of 6 per cent.
But having a casino or a betting shop at your finger tips 24/7 also comes with problems.
According to the Gambling Commission’s most recent report, approximately 340,000 adults are considered ‘problem gamblers’, while another 550,000 are classed as a moderate risk.
Perhaps even more of a concern is that 1.2million are classed as a low risk at becoming a problem gambler – someone with an urge to gamble continuously despite negative consequences or a desire to stop.
In a bid to tackle the issue, the Gambling Commission carried out a review of online gambling in 2018.
The report led the regulator to introduce a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling.
In 2018, the Government introduced a limit on Fixed Odd Betting Terminals in betting shops, limiting the max bet to £2 after a year-long study into the machines.
Players could previously bet up to £100 a spin on the machines – which were dubbed the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling.
According to the Gambling Commission’s most recent report, approximately 340,000 adults are problem gamblers, while another 550,000 are classed as a moderate risk
But the move drew criticism from industry experts and bookies – including William Hill who closed 700 betting shops citing the decision – who said the issue of problem gambling had been moving online before the restrictions were put in place.
Meanwhile, the Commission has also vowed to further strengthen protections in relation to unfair practices, complaints and disputes, customer interaction and online age and identity verification.
Following the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK, the Commission also wrote to online operators upon the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis reminding them of their responsibilities to their customers.
Operators meanwhile also have their own policies and house-rules for customers, including daily account limits – in which players can set their own limit on how much they can spend in a set period of time.
A number of firms also offer self-exclusion periods where customers can ban themselves for up to five years from the site.
They also warn customers they will ‘use all reasonable endeavours to ensure compliance’ with its self-exclusion policies.
There are also free third party services such as GAMSTOP which allow users to restrict online gambling activities.
