Is Poker Addictive Like Other Forms of Gambling

The answer is it can be for some people who are compulsive and have little will power or just crave the action.  Gamblers Anonymous has a twenty-question form that will help a person realize that they are addicted or becoming addicted.  Some of the key questions are items like have you missed work or school due to gambling?  Have you borrowed money to play? The second part of this question is and the only way you could pay it back was by winning.  Has your gambling or playing caused family problems or caused you to lie?  Many of the questions are so general that many people will answer yes to some of them, but they are not really addicted.  Gambling and drinking have one thing in common to the non-addicted person.  They can really take it or leave it alone at their will and do not have or feel the need to gamble.

One of the addictive traits of a person with this compulsion is that they do not feel alive unless they are in action.  If this becomes an overpowering feeling then the person needs help from people who understand the problem and have found ways to beat the desire to play. [Read][more...]

The Economy and Poker

For many years the economy was never a bad factor for gambling when the economy was in the dumpster.  A bad economy was always a reason fro people to gamble.  In the thirties the horse racing handles and illegal bookmaking prospered as people tried to supplement their income or lack of it.  Gaming, as we know it now did not exist and the only legal gaming in the United States was the thoroughbred racing industry and the betting pools at the racetrack.  The bad economy of those days was a catalyst that pushed people to gamble.

This is not true with our current economic situation.  The live casinos in many of the big gaming centers are having a tough time keeping their revenue up and this is a distinct change in the usual situation when gaming and the poor economic conditions meet.

Poker is the one area of gambling that seems to continue to grow.  The tournaments all over Europe and the United States are full of not only the pros, but also the satellite-winning amateurs. The prize money continues to grow and the player count in the torments seems to continue to grow or at least not lose players. [Read][more...]

What the courts are saying and the Steve Martin story

The courts in very recent cases are coming down on the side of poker is a skill game and the player's skill will make a difference over time.  Consistent poker winners are very skillful and do not just depend on luck to win.  These players want to take as much of the gamble out of a played hand as possible.  By doing this they let the poor player depend on luck to win and they have the edge in the game. Like casinos know, having the edge over time will make you a winner.  The more skilled the player, will lead to more winning sessions.

The comedian Steve Martin tells a great poker story.  When he was still playing online he decided to quit playing one night and experienced an Ambien event.   He took the sleeping pill and continued to play.  When he awoke in the morning, he checked his poker account.  He discovered that he had $1500 dollars in his account.  He remembered only having $500 in his account when he took the pill. [Read][more...]