Under fire Giovanni Pernice blows £1k on fruit machines at dingy shop amid Strictly bullying probe

STRICTLY’S Giovanni Pernice blew nearly £1,000 on fruit machines in a dingy amusement arcade.

The dancer, 33, is a regular at one dimly-lit venue, where he was pictured arriving at 9.45am this week — before moving on to a second nearby in West London.

The professional dancer was seen leaving dimly-lit Silver Time, where he is a regular punter, on Monday.

He spent nearly an hour inside, pumping cash into his favourite gambling machines, before heading a few doors down to Admiral Casino.

Sources told The Sun that Gio, who is at the centre of a bullying probe on the BBC dance show, spends hundreds of pounds in Silver Time in West London, and that he popped in three times last week.

He is thought to have lost £1,000 during his recent visits.

An insider said: “Giovanni comes in quite often and at all times of the day, not just the morning.

“He’d not been seen for a while but came in three times last week.

“He was spending up to £300 a time and he always plays on the same four fruit machines, betting £2 a spin.

"Sometimes he loses, but he wins too. He never gets angry when he’s gambling and he’s always perfectly polite.

"Sometimes he’ll just come in to have a coffee and a quick bet, then go.”

Gio was snapped wearing casual Dolce & Gabbana jogging bottoms and a white top with the logo “Made in Italy” across it as he emerged from Silver Time.

At one point, he popped outside for a cig break before heading to the other slots shop, Admiral Casino, at 12 noon. He was later seen eating a pastry bought from bakery chain Paul.

Gio vehemently denies the bullying allegations against him and has vowed to clear his name.

­Former dance partner, actress Amanda Abbington, 50, said she was diagnosed with PTSD after she was paired with him last year.

Ex-Love Island host Laura Whitmore, 39, is also contributing to the probe.

Two ex-Met cops are helping the BBC investigate the claims.

Gio has been backed by the show’s head judge Shirley Ballas, 63. She revealed he was attending a party of hers tomorrow and said: “I have known Giovanni for ten years.

"He has always been, to me — and I will make that clear — a perfect gentleman.”

Shirley added: “My feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation and the truth will come out. So we don’t judge anybody until I know absolutely, 100 per cent.”

A rep for Gio was approached for comment about the visits to the amusement centres.

It came as the pro dancer was said to be in advanced talks to join Dancing With The Stars, the Italian version of Strictly.

Show bosses reportedly want him to appear as a judge — but are also open to him signing up as a dancer.

He would start in August after finishing his live dance tour with Strictly judge pal Anton Du Beke.