Sunday Mirror: ADDICTED

SAD George Best has found a new addiction after giving up the booze.

After bravely battling alcoholism, he has turned to gambling to get his kicks.

The 56-year-old, who is still fighting his way back to health after undergoing a liver transplant last year, is spending hours in the bookies.

And Best, according to fellow punters, is in the middle of a losing streak which is costing him hundreds of pounds a day.

He is now a regular customer at the William Hill bookmakers in Cheam, a 10-minute drive from the home he shares with his glamorous wife, Alex, at Chipstead, Surrey.

Some days George can spent up to five hours studying the form, chatting with fellow punters and watching for his horses to come home.

It is not the first time George has hit the newspapers over his gambling habits.

In his heyday as a top footballer he regularly spent thousands of pounds in casinos, often accompanied at the tables by beautiful women.

He referred to those days earlier this year when handing out advice on gambling to Liverpool striker Michael Owen.

Best said then: "He is hooked, even if he doesn't think he is. I know it. I have been through it myself." And now George, who has refused to allow his problems to dampen his love of life, is again battling his demons.

The soccer legend isn't even content to just play the horses but fills in the gaps in races by turning his attention to the slot machines.

He was seen feeding one gaming machine at Hill's for an hour, only taking time out to place further bets on his choosen mounts. On some days it can be even longer.

Many of the regulars at the bookmakers have now got used to seeing the celebrity football pundit and rarely raise an eyebrow.

But for others it is a surprise to see Best with his handful of betting slips standing among the ordinary punters.

A long-time friend said last night: "George has always loved a bit of a flutter.

"I suppose he has always had the money so it was never a problem that way.

"But it is a problem for him when he is wants to spent more and more time in the bookies.

"I can't imagine Alex will want to see him getting hooked on another addiction, not after everything they have gone through together over the drink."

It is believed that Best has been a regular customer at the William Hill book- maker's shop for the past two months.

He arrives there on most occasions behind the wheel of his customised Mini Cooper car, having driven himself from his home eight miles away.

Belfast-born George, who made his name in the 1970s after signing for Manchester United, is a television pundit on the Sky Sports network.

He briefly moved back home to Northern Ireland with Alex, settling in Co Down, for the quiet life.

However, the celebrity pair were soon on the move again, heading back to south England so that George could be near his work.

Best's earlier gambling days, during which he was as well known at the roulette wheel as on the soccer pitch, only came to an end when he realised he was in danger of losing everything.

The betting addition can be as hard to beat as alcoholism and friends fear it will mean another roller coaster ride for George.

Experts have warned that what started out as a bit of harmless fun could have developed into another demon.