Might Bite: The Secret Life of a Gambling Addict

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'An electrifying account of gambling addiction ... compelling' The Times 'Searingly honest ... should be in the hands of anyone who has eyed a bet' Daily Mail 'A remarkable piece of work' The Cricketer 'Compulsive' The i 'An in-depth testimony' Daily Telegraph 'An extraordinary story ... vital stuff' Adrian Chiles, BBC Radio 5 Live 'A no-holds-barred journey through gambling addiction and into the hope of recovery' Paul Merson 'Patrick's story will stop you in your tracks' Sam Billings, England cricketer The unputdownable story of a life shattered by a secret gambling addiction - and an uplifting tale of recovery. With a foreword by Marcus Trescothick. For more than 12 years, Patrick Foster lived a double life. Turning 31, a popular and sociable young teacher and former professional cricketer, he had a lovely girlfriend and a supportive family. But he was hiding a secret and debilitating gambling addiction from even those closest to him. Huge bets had led to huge debts, thousands of lies, and consequences for his mental health that pushed him to the edge of the platform at Slough station, where he was moments from taking his own life in March 2018. That month Patrick had turned a £30 bet into £28,000, then lost £50,000 on a single horse, Might Bite, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, watching the race in a silent classroom as his students undertook a mock exam in front of him. In his desperation, he had taken out every possible loan, and borrowed money from family, friends and even the parents of children he taught. Although his life was unravelling around him, he could not stop. You might think that this is just one man's story. But problem gambling affects one in 200 people in the UK alone. Hundreds lose their lives annually as a result. The industry is worth more than £14 billion. Might Bite is a shocking, cautionary tale of just how easy it is to fall victim to the insidious lure of 'winning big'. And of how recovery is possible from the depths of addiction, no matter how inescapable it seems. 'As a society, we are only just getting to grips with gambling addiction. Patrick Foster is a trailblazer. His work will help many.' Marcus Trescothick Title Page Copyright Page Contents Foreword Chapter 1: March 2018 Chapter 2: October 2006 Chapter 3: June 2007 Chapter 4: January 2010 Chapter 5: August 2011 Chapter 6: July 2012 Chapter 7: October 2014 Chapter 8: January 2016 Chapter 9: December 2016 Chapter 10: March 2017 Chapter 11: August 2017 Chapter 12: January 2018 Chapter 13: March 2018 Chapter 14: At the time of writing Chapter 15: Reflections from recovery References Acknowledgements