Poker

House of cards - World Series Poker in Vegas c/o AP Images

Inside Out looks at the story of one man's battle against his own demons - against an addiction to gambling and a life of debt.

Kal had a belief that the internet could change his fortunes - that he could still be a "player" and he could beat the best at their own game.

He soon lost control of his gambling and his betting spread to football, cricket, and horses... and casino games of roulette and blackjack.

His debts were so big that only the sale of his house could clear them.

Kal's life was a mess, and something had to change.

Life changing experience

Kal sold his house to pay off most of the gambling debts when he met Kila, the woman he has now married.

Together he and Kila realised that they faced a big decision.

Could Kal control his betting, or at least channel it in another direction?

Las Vegas - gambling's glittering home

What they discovered was Internet poker - online versions of the casino games.

There are scores of poker sites - sign up, submit credit card details and you can be playing for big money in just minutes.

The easy availability changed Kal's life.

Then he discovered Las Vegas - the city where all his dreams could come true.

On a whim, Kal entered the World Series of Poker Championship in Las Vegas in 2005 - to his own amazement he won £50,000.

It was time for Kila and Kal to quit their jobs and try to make a living from online poker.

Leaving for Las Vegas

Las Vegas is home to the world's biggest gamblers and casinos, and host to the richest poker game in history.

Eight and a half thousand players from 58 countries compete for prize money totalling $160 million - about £85 million.

All a player needs is luck, some skill and a will to win.

For two newly minted professional poker players wanting to earn a living, it's the only place to go.

Full house - but can Kal bring home the jackpot? c/o AFB/Getty

Kal has just returned for the 2006 World Series championship - the world's biggest poker tournament.

The knockout contest lasts a fortnight - and the winner will take home $12 million dollars.

Kal will have to play about 14 hours a day if he's to reach the final table.

The tournament attracts poker players from all walks of life - including Bryan McFadden from Westlife!

This contest is so big that for Kal to reach the final hand, he's facing at least another 90 hours of poker - and there are hundreds of players who are yet to even start.

But just six hours into the match which could have brought enormous rewards, Kal has crashed out.

It may not have worked out for Kal - but it did for the appropriately named Jamie Gold.

He won the pot - half a ton of money - $12 million.

Links relating to this story:

• World Series of Poker
• Gam Care
• Gamblers Anonymous

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Dog dirt

Scoop it up and bin it - dog owners take note!

We may be a nation of dog lovers - but what we don't seem to be too fond of is clearing up after our pets.

Inside Out found out that the clear-up operation in the North West is costing a fortune.

And dog owners are often ill informed about their pets fouling public places.

Some dog owners watch their dog making a mess, then walk on without picking it up.

Picking up the poop

In Rossendale local people have also been kicking up a stink about dog dirt.

Dave East is the dog warden for the Borough Council, and he's on a quest to rid Rossendale of dog dirt.

He goes out on patrol and checks whether dog walkers are picking up after their pets.

Dave is concerned about the health implications of dog poo, especially in places such as playing fields:

"If a dog hasn't been wormed, the people playing on these playing fields could be blinded."

That's exactly what happened to Maria Howe - she lives in the Rossendale Valley and has been practically blind in one eye since she was a child.

To show the size of the problem North West dog wardens like Dave are up against, we picked a random path which is popular with dog walkers.

Sadly the owners don't seem to be keen on picking up after their pets, and the evidence is everywhere.

Caught in the act

While dog fouling carries a fine of £1,000, the dog wardens have got to catch owners in the act.

It's a tough and lonely job and one that gets a fair amount of abuse.

The message isn't always getting through to dog owners

In Bolton, the local council has had so many complaints that they're going undercover using a CCTV van to catch offenders.

Meanwhile back in Rossendale, Dave East is concentrating on prevention and education.

He's trying to convey the message to owners that when they have a puppy, they have responsibilities including making sure they've got bags on them, and the puppy's wormed on a regular basis.

Until dog owners get the message, the problem of dog dirt will continue to cause a stink amongst local residents.

Links relating to this story:

• Rossendale Valley Council
• Bolton Council

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Ghost train

Take the ghost train - a memorable journey

Presenter, actor and champion of public transport, Simon O'Brien, takes the 'ghost train' from Stockport to Stalybridge.

The service is unusual in that it only runs in one direction, once a week, on a Saturday.

This is because it is easier to keep a token service running than to close the line which would require an act of Parliament.

This type of service - of which there are only a handful in the country - is known as a "parliamentary" or a "ghost train".

Trainspotters anonymous

The service attracts enthusiasts from all over the country as Simon discovers when he meets up with a group of fellow passengers calling themselves "trainspotters anonymous".

They meet up on the service a couple of times a year and describe the 20 minute, 12 mile journey as "a good day out".

As the train pulls into to Stalybridge, it soon becomes apparent what the real attraction of the service is as Simon visits the Stalybridge Buffet Bar.

Largely unchanged for more than 150 years, it is one of only a few original station buffet bars still remaining in the country.

The buffet serves a wide selection of local cask ales as well as its famous dish of "black peas".

Join the ghost train

The train leaves Stockport station at 11:23 am every Saturday.

Links relating to this story:

• Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites