If you take a group of people playing slot machines or cards, backing a horse or a football team, some won't be affected at all, a couple may develop a mild gambling habit whilst one may end up with a with a severe problem. It’s hard to say what the trigger is as its different for each person but there is a point when things change and it goes from being fun to being the solution to the problem - the only way to recover the money that's been lost and pay back the debts is to gamble more.

Patrick Chester ended up in jail because of his gambling addiction but now, six years later he is living a life of recovery and trying to help other people recognise what it is, what the dangers and trying to help people already suffering from it.