Is being addicted to poker a bad thing?

Is being addicted to poker a bad thing? I ask this because, I am addicted to playing poker. I'm not addicted to gambling. While I've played other casino games such as slots, blackjack, craps, etc, I've never played them much, and what I enjoy about them is playing the game rather then the gambling aspect. I don't spend money I don't have. I've never gone in debt to play poker, and I never will. I play within my means. Yet I am addicted to poker. I play everynight, four to six hours usually, sometimes more, but seldom less. I love it. I think about it when i'm not playing. I watch people play it on TV. Hell, I've even dreamed about it, wake up in the morning with poker hands running through my mind. Is that a bad thing? I'm not neglecting anything by playing so much. I don't have children, or even a girlfriend. If I wasn't playing cards, I'd be laying on the couch, watching TV. I want to say, in fact, that it's a good thing, that in order to be really good at anything, one must be addicted to it. Many of the great pro players certainly are addicted to it. Yet I can't help but wonder. To quote a scene from the Guy Ritchie film, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, "I got a suspicion we should have been rocket scientists, or Noble Peace Prize winners or something." I don't know. What do you think? Is being addicted to poker a bad thing?

-n

its bad when you hit bankrupt and you keep playing and playing and losing and losing. If you like it and your not losing and your not having to bet realy big to get a type of "rush" then your fine. My advice is only play when you know you have time to play. If you have nothing to do for 10 minutes dont go to the poker room. I did that and it drained me. You get a good hand you over bet and end up losing. Try playing for shorter amount of time and then go outside or do something else. Trust me it will improve your game.

I know what you mean Nate (Lock, Stock one of my all-time favs )

I have tried many different scenes, had many different friends and been to and seen many different places, and done many different things.

Poker seems a permanent piece of my life and has been everyday for the last 18+ months.
Now that may not seem long, but playing everyday, watching it on tv - even the repeats of old championships, reading books, magazines and forums you would think, maybe just a little, you would think 'not again' when you log-on.

But i find topic replies in my email, new tourney offers from sites, this months mags arriving, player 'x' has a new book out and is well reviewed, updates on the latest tourneys to be found and who did win that comp you crashed out of late last night

I dont see it as an addiction but a whole new world with so many things to offer as well as being able to take part in and even provide points for others to join in on.

Entertainment, thought, learning and laughter - sometimes even profit.
If thats addiction, than im glad to say im addicted.

Enjoy and Peace

Im like nate, additcted. I play it everynight and watch it on TV. Make it sound good, if i wasnt addicted to poker, id be addicted to drugs.....

Which is cause and which is effect?

If your poker addiction is the result of having too much time on your hands then I think it's OK, but if it's the reason you don't have much else in your life, I think then it's problematic. I think I'm an addict myself and I don't regard this as a good thing. There are other things I'm supposed to be doing but I use poker as a diversion tactic. If you're playing live poker, I suppose that's a bit different because it's sociable and you interact with people, but sitting on your own playing online for 4-6 hours a day doesn't sound too healthy.

I've been single for a lot longer then i've been playing poker... ... lol. Like i said, if i wasn't playing cards, i'd just be watching TV or something. I don't avoid social interaction to play cards. I just play when i have nothing else to do, which is often. And i've grown to loath television. I don't gamble recklessly. And as someone else mentioned, i'm not blowing money on poker. I'm pretty much a break even player, one big win away from being very profitable. So that's why i asked. it's not hurting my social life. If i have the oppertunity to go out, i go. I'm not sepending money on it. And i can't help but feel that being addicted to poker has made me a much better player. I just wonder sometimes, as i said in my original post, if it's not a little silly to dedicate so much of my time to my game. But no, i'm not neglecting anything. it's just what I do in my spare time.

-n

It sounds like you just plain have a passion for it, like most of us do Nate. I don't think there's anything wrong with it unless of course the gambling part of it takes over you.

You're exactly like me; i haven't been as into it really recently, but I still love the game (and yes, I have found myself dreaming about poker, then waking up thinking of it ). If you were like this with say soccer, there would be no problem at all. It's exactly the same, except of course there's the risk of losing your money. That's easily avoided with proper bankroll management and decent will power, which im sure you have, so you got nothin to worry about

I'm not addicted to poker...wait I'll be right back there's a tourney that i signed up for coming on.

whew im not the only one lol....this morning wife told me i was talkin in my sleep last night and said all in lol

Thats what it sounds like to me too nate. To be addicted is a bad thing, but I don't think that is what you are, you are passionate about it.

If your addicted its more about the rush, and when you lose you can't stop.

Now of course poker players are not athletes but I think this comparison holds true. If you play golf 5 times a week (costing you money) in a quest to get better and you love playing it, your not addicted, you just really enjoy it and I see nothing wrong with that.

I hope you were talking about poker and not sex!

That probably would be a problem if he was. lol. I think there are thousands of people just like you who have seen poker on tv and got the itch and play everyday. About two and half years ago I didn't know you could play online for cash was looking for a free game and my search turned up all these sites. I've watched sites grow from 2000 or 3000 on peak hours to some having 20000+ it seems like everytime I long on. I don't think your situation is a problem unless you let it take over your life in which case I would say yes. But then again football season is upon us and sometimes I let that take over for 4 or so months out of the year.lol

lmao yeah i meant poker.....the next tourney is startin aint got time for sex ....is that a problem??? lol

LOOOL

Well Nate, if anyone on this forum is qualified to speak on addictive behavior it's the Chuckster, so relax & enjoy. I totally agree with what he said although, his you are just like me statement would scare the beejesus out of me.

Better than being just like a cross dressing poker maniac!

As long as your not hurting anyone, i wouldnt call it an addiction, more of a passion or a hobby you want to excel in.

HAHAHA thanks for the defence, logan

Hey before you guys knock it try walkin a mile in my strapless 6' pumps.

IMO I think this post is not really about "being addicted to poker".
The others went through on your other words.
I think yes it is a serious problem that you play that much poker. It's not about poker, it's about your free time. It seems like you really have no goals in life - maybe in depression. And so that you say probably you would just watch TV instead, it makes it worse.
How about reading a book? Or going to cinema with friends?
Or if you are so addicted you should try live game, it's more fun, you can meet people, and you love to play so-perfect.
Why is TV the only option???? It seems like you are running away from your life, TV or Poker - you think that's all what life is about?
"I just play when i have nothing else to do, which is often."
Please just re-read this sentece. And think about it.
"I've been single for a lot longer then i've been playing poker..."
And this one, it sounds like you're not really trying to get a girlfriend (maybe I'm wrong here, then I appologies)
So I'm sorry for being this hard, but I think you do need help.
All the others could get along with smileys and all, but I can't.
You can defeat yourself saying I'm wrong, and everything is OK, I'd be happy.
I'm a very fortunate girl, that I'm happy and I'm in love with a great guy, just imagine that he often plays me Love You from Syd on guitar, and now compare this to stering at a monitor alone and playing poker.

While I didn't take this thread nearly as seriously as some of you seemed to, meaning it more as a joke as anything else, the point being that one has to be at least a little addicted to poker to be truly good at it. Whatever problems I may have, gambling is not one of them. having said that I had to respond to your post, because essentially, you're absolutly right, though I do read books (and not poker books, never been able to get into them), and if you've ever seen modern American films, you'd understand why I don't go to the cinema very often (see the Snakes on a Plane thread... no offence...). I don't have many goals in life, or at the very least I don't take the goals i do have very seriously (though i don't see a probalem with that), and i am depressed, but i'm used to it (and don't even bother telling me how pathetic that statement is). But believe me when I say that i don't think poker is what life's all about. nothing could be further from the truth. Poker is just a silly game, though so is life, only a far more meaningful one. and i don't spend much time trying to meet women. i'm shy, what can i say? i can't help it. i always have been. I envy you for your happy life and i wish you all the best, but I am a solitary person, I always have been, and i fill my days as best I can, doing things that I enjoy. here I am, pouring my heart out, but again, I have nothing else to do. Though rest assured, I am going out tonight, to a local end of summer beach bash my town holds. I'll probably play a couple HORSE SNG's when I get home.... but heck... baby steps, baby. i'll survive.

-n

loooool..... (<-- sarcasim)

this thread is really old.

Thanks for the heads-up on being really old. I was about to respond.

oh go ahead and respond, if you must.

But why do people dig up really old threads and make posts that have virtually zero contribution to the threads?