Article Trunk



Is Poker Gambling?

12.22.2006 · Posted in Games Articles

* Poker = gambling = debt

I have some friends and family that think poker is like ****** – starts off great but soon you’re addicted and up to your eyeballs in debt.

Of course, we all know it isn’t like that. There are countless arguments on the web, all trying desperately to decide whether everyone should join the gambler’s anonymous or not. This is my take on it all.

* Poker = gambling

“Gambling is any behavior involving risking money or valuables on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event in which the outcome of that activity depends partially or totally upon chance or upon one’s ability to do something.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling)

So technically, poker counts as gambling. Assuming of course, that tournament chips have some value. Tournament chips don’t have monetary value – only your finishing position does. But, given that (generally) more chips means a higher finishing position, chips do have an implied value, since the point of the game is to gain more of them in order to finish higher.

* But gambling does not = debt

But is gambling a terrible thing? As I see it, no. People often say – “it’s addictive, you’ll lose all your money”, but this argument is analogous to the one about guns – “guns don’t **** people, people **** people”. It’s not gambling that puts you in debt, it’s the person doing the gambling. Any activity that involves spending your money can put you in debt. Properly managed (as with all financial affairs), gambling is perfectly safe.

All decent players, from amateur to pro, will tell you that bankroll (the stash of money a player uses for poker) management is paramount to success. There’s no sense betting all your money in one go, since there is always a chance you’ll lose (as in any form of gambling). Instead, risk small portions of your bankroll, so as to give your skillful edge plenty of time to come into effect – over the long run.

As for addiction.. how many substances are in everyday use that are incredibly addictive? Alcohol? Nicotine? What if every time you treated yourself to a glass of wine, all your friends jumped up and started preaching about the dangers of alcoholism and addiction? You’d say – “pah, go away and stop being silly”, and you’d be entirely right. Gambling is no different.

I’ve heard some people say, “but gambling is immoral, and a silly thing to spend your dosh on”. Why? I can spend

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.