num_pages: 257
description: ' 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 cricketerThe 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 28000 then lost 50000 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
language: English
title: Might Bite: The Secret Life of a Gambling Addict
publisher: Bloomsbury Sport