Are poker players gamblers? Are you a gambler? - Page 2 - Poker News

In the common vernacular there is a distinction between gambler and playing a game with an edge for profit, for sure. So it rankles a little to be described as a gambler, knowing it is misinterpreted by the general pop. Once I was giving a talk in a philosophy class and the group leader asked me what I did. I think I said "semi-retired poker player right now." He introed me as "a gambler" and it rankled somehow, even caused some murmurs. Especially in big cities (a lot of that audience was from New York and Boston) gambling is all tied up with crime in the minds of many, less so now, but still considerably.

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03-21-2019 , 06:46 AM

#27

swissodds

adept

Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 1,103

We are all flip flops, period.

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03-21-2019 , 07:47 AM

#28

Themadmonk

enthusiast

Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 51

Poker is gambling just the same as horseracing or sports betting.
Would even say there is just as much skill involved in being a winning horse/sports bettor as there is in being a winning poker player.

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03-21-2019 , 07:57 AM

#29

pokerhsmtt

journeyman

Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 236

what happens if you don't care about winning $ in a tournament and all you care about is finishing first for the title?

spending dollars to potentially get a title. is that gambling?

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03-21-2019 , 09:37 AM

#30

Josem

human chemical weapon

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 18,190

At best, this would be a discussion of what it means to be a gambler; at worst, this is nonsense.

Obviously, this is NVG, so it is all nonsense.

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03-21-2019 , 09:59 AM

#31

cxy123

adept

Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 786

Who in the pool had "is poker gambling?" thread being started before April 1? Step forward and claim your prize.

OP: Yes. Yes. Any other Qs?

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03-21-2019 , 11:46 AM

#32

Nepeeme2008

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 2,913

I wouldn't dare to call myself a poker player anymore since at best I was or am a break even rec player. But I always said to myself "I'm not a gambler, I don't play slots, I don't play roulette" . After going on a downswing lately, I've started sports betting as an alternative.
So yes, you are a gambler, accept it and stop fooling yourself.

Are card counters in Blackjack gamblers? Is blackjack a game of skill or gambling? Hmm

Of course, the real question should've been, is there a difference between a gambler and an advantage (player) gambler?
Yes, not all gamblers are equals but it's still gambling.

Last edited by Nepeeme2008; 03-21-2019 at 11:52 AM.

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03-21-2019 , 12:12 PM

#33

Xenoblade

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 4,090

I guess what he means to ask is are you addicted to gambling?

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03-21-2019 , 12:53 PM

#34

Nepeeme2008

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 2,913

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenoblade

I guess what he means to ask is are you addicted to gambling?

Good point.

I guess I should only speak for myself. I guess I am.
Sun Tzu says, know yourself in order to know your opponents, and only go all in with Aces. Only then are you not gambling but skilling.

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03-21-2019 , 02:08 PM

#35

Sir Donkington III

journeyman

Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 212

OE straight plus flush draw = all in no matter what.

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03-21-2019 , 03:34 PM

#36

ouirly

centurion

Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 148

what a stupid question. are poker players are gamblers? yes, and your people give money with blood on it. i met your people in vegas for 40 years. none of them have last names.

you're a poker player
a POKER PLAYER

that's beyond white trash.
poker players are trash darling, trash.

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03-21-2019 , 03:47 PM

#37

stumbras

adept

Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,167

Yes.
If you play live poker, especially MTT's - you are Gambler.

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03-21-2019 , 04:36 PM

#38

zica

adept

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 974

Farming is a gamble because you don't know when the next drought will occur.

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03-21-2019 , 04:44 PM

#39

tgiggity

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 5,782

being a professional athlete is a gamble because you don't know when you might sustain a career ending injury

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03-21-2019 , 05:55 PM

#40

Gzesh

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 7,644

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoosierdaddy

... I sell my body for drugs. If you look up the definition of drug addict I'd be one, if you're asking do I consider myself a drug addict, I do not,

if you go by the definition of morbidly obese I am, if you're asking if I think I'm fat, I do not

You do realize you might get a better price if the body you are selling is not morbidly obese.That likely holds whether you harvest and sell body parts or just rent them out by the hour or act.

Your morbidly obese condition interferes with satisfying your desire for drugs

More "body proceeds" = more drugs can be purchased.

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03-21-2019 , 07:19 PM

#41

Chicagodude

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,810

If it weren't for poker I'd avoid casinos altogether, but, yeah it's undeniably gambling.

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03-21-2019 , 09:51 PM

#42

Kelvis

banned

Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 8,737

The people arguing other things than poker are also gambling, what is your point? None of it cancels the fact that poker is gambling.

If your point is other things should also be called gambling, that is another issue.

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03-21-2019 , 10:29 PM

#43

tgiggity

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 5,782

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelvis

my point was that every decision in life is a calculated risk, or in other words, a gamble. poker is definitely gambling. going to college is gambling. signing on to work as a tradesmen is gambling. getting into your car to drive to the grocery store is gambling. etc that doesn't mean they all have the same risk/reward though

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03-21-2019 , 11:23 PM

#44

MofoAgro

journeyman

Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 338

He who gambles
Lives in shambles

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03-21-2019 , 11:47 PM

#45

mrlumpyz

stranger

Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 2

To me Poker is a skill based game. Only bet on the higher probability can win th pot.
Addicted to the feeling of gamble can not be long last. Sick!

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03-22-2019 , 12:00 AM

#46

+EVillain

grinder

Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 569

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nepeeme2008

Of course, the real question should've been, is there a difference between a gambler and an advantage (player) gambler?
Yes, not all gamblers are equals but it's still gambling.

yeah i guess thats a better way of asking this question. I also asked this in a broad way because i think this is about identity too. Many poker players define themselves as gamblers, which is interesting. There are also players who stress the fact that poker is not gambling (sorta).

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03-22-2019 , 12:03 AM

#47

+EVillain

grinder

Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 569

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgiggity

no gamble no future 🙏💯

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03-22-2019 , 12:12 AM

#48

+EVillain

grinder

Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 569

Quote:

Originally Posted by FellaGaga-52

"Class id like to introduce fella-gaga, he is a retired degen who made his fortunes playing bacarat with whitey bulger...oh, sry, poker"

btw did you end that downswing yet fella? i got my soul sucked out last week by a straight flush and thought of ur post

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03-22-2019 , 12:22 AM

#49

CupOfSalt

journeyman

Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 387

I’m not sure what you mean by the question in the OP, as it could be taken several ways.

If you mean in the context of “do poker players take part in other gambling activities?” My answer would be every reg and pro player I’ve known has had some crutch whether it be sports betting, craps, video poker, etc.