Might Bite: The Secret Life of a Gambling Addict

The book "Might Bite" is a gripping account of gambling addiction and its consequences. It follows the story of Patrick Foster, a young teacher and former professional cricketer who hid a secret gambling addiction from everyone for over 12 years. His addiction led to huge debts, thousands of lies, and mental health issues that almost resulted in his suicide. The book highlights the prevalence of problem gambling in the UK, affecting one in 200 people and costing the industry over £14 billion annually. It also shows that recovery is possible, even from the most inescapable depths of addiction.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

An electrifying account of gambling addiction, this book is a compelling read for anyone who has ever eyed a bet. Searingly honest, it should be in the hands of anyone who has struggled with addiction.

Patrick Foster, a popular and sociable young teacher and former professional cricketer, lived a double life for more than 12 years. He had a loving 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, and 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.' It also shows that recovery is possible from the depths of addiction, no matter how inescapable it seems.

This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever struggled with addiction, and for anyone who wants to understand the devastating consequences of gambling addiction. It is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the hope for recovery.

Weight: 368g
Dimension: 223 x 145 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472992130