Snooker’s Mark King Opens Up About Years of Problem Gambling
British snooker player Mark King, who was banned for five years in 2024 due to match-fixing violations, has opened up about the personal cost of his long-term gambling addiction. In a recent interview on the Cue Sport Hub YouTube podcast, King admitted that his betting habits derailed his career and affected his mental health.
Gambling Played a Major Role in King’s Decline
In a candid appearance on the Cue Sport Hub YouTube podcast, Mark King didn’t shy away from discussing the toll gambling had taken on his life. Reflecting on missed opportunities and matches he could have won, the 2016 Northern Ireland Open champion said: “100%, 100%. If I’d have got the message earlier on, I’d definitely won more tournaments.”
King explained that his mind was often preoccupied by gambling, even during high-stakes matches. One example he cited was his semi-final loss to John Higgins at the 1998 Welsh Open. Instead of resting ahead of the crucial match, King spent the entire day in a betting shop.
“I was in the betting shop all day, all day long,” he said, recalling how he placed his first bet on a dog race at 11 a.m. and wagered around £1,000. He didn’t return to his hotel until about 6 p.m., just before the match. “I wasn’t in the best frame of mind. I should’ve been resting, sleeping… you know… getting ready for a massive game.”
Early Exposure to Betting Shaped His Habits
King’s introduction to gambling started early. He described how, as a child, he would visit his grandmother and play the dice game Yahtzee for coins. “She’d give me a bag of two pences and we’d place bets,” he said. While it seemed harmless at the time, he now sees that as the beginning of his relationship with betting.
By age 10, he was already frequenting snooker clubs and playing fruit machines. The casual exposure to gambling during his formative years eventually grew into a destructive pattern that followed him into adulthood.
A Career Halted by Match-Fixing Allegations
King’s professional life came to a standstill when he was among several players suspended in 2023 over match-fixing allegations. In November 2024, he received a five-year ban from the sport and was fined £68,299.50 (approximately $88,200). His suspension is set to end on March 17, 2028.
While he did not address the suspension during the podcast, his remarks suggest a level of personal reckoning and a desire to confront the role gambling played in the downfall of his career.
King Marks 13 Years Without Gambling
Despite the setbacks, King says his life has changed dramatically. He’s been free from gambling for over a decade. “It’s brilliant,” he said, reflecting on his current situation. “It feels really good not to owe money.”
He revealed that his last bet was placed 13 years ago, highlighting the progress he has made in overcoming his addiction.
