A former butcher and factory worker, Gilding made his television debut at the 2011 UK Open at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton as a pub qualifier.

He defeated Brendan Dolan, Matt Clark, Andy Hamilton before losing 9–2 to Mark Hylton in the last 32 earning himself £2,000 in the process.

Gilding's best result of 2012 was getting to the quarter-finals at the UK Open Qualifier 7 at the NIA Community Hall, Birmingham defeating Joe Cullen, Scott Rand, Mark Hylton and Simon Whitlock before losing 6–3 to Kevin Painter.

[8] Gilding reached his first career PDC final at the second UK Open Qualifier, beating the likes of Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade and Phil Taylor to face reigning BDO World Champion Stephen Bunting.

He defeated Jamie Caven, Jelle Klaasen, Michael Smith, Darren Webster and James Wade before he lost 6–5 to Gary Anderson despite averaging a superb 107.70.

[18] A semi-final defeat in the fourth qualifier saw Gilding enter the UK Open at the third round stage and he whitewashed Kevin Painter 9–0.

[20] Gilding faced Austria's Mensur Suljović and beat him 10–8 to set up a semi-final with world number one Michael van Gerwen.

[21] Gilding played the match of his career to date as he averaged 108.37, hit 10 180s and a 10 darter, but it wasn't quite enough to progress to the final as his tournament ended with a 10–8 loss.

[25] After whitewashing Gerwyn Price 3–0 in the first round of the 2016 World Championship, Gilding lost 4–0 to Adrian Lewis picking up just two legs in the process.

[27] Gilding reached the semi-finals of the 10th Players Championship which included a 6–0 thrashing of Jelle Klaasen, but he suffered a 6–0 loss to Dave Chisnall.

In November he qualified for 2018 Grand Slam of Darts, where he finished last in his round robin group, after losing to Gerwyn Price and Simon Whitlock, his only win came in the last match against Glen Durrant.

Despite playing on two major events at the end of the year, Gilding did not qualify for 2019 PDC World Darts Championship, fell out of top 64 and lost his Tour card.

He placed 2nd overall after consistent results throughout all four days of Final Stage, into which he received automatic spot after finishing in the Top 16 of the 2020 PDC Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

At the 2023 UK Open, Gilding reached a first televised final and won his first PDC major title, surviving a match dart to defeat Michael van Gerwen 11–10.