What distinguishes playing poker for sport from gambling?

W

Weffy

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
May 18, 2013
Total posts
48
Chips
0
Hope I worded that right, and I hope that this hasn't been asked and debated a million times, but I'm wondering...

At what point does playing Hold'em become gambling... like addiction. How can you pick out the player at the table that is playing the game like blackjack, and how do you pick the players who are playing the game like chess?


I ask because I want to make sure I never cross that line and if I do, I want to know.
 
Aleksei

Aleksei

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Total posts
1,527
Chips
0
The guy who's playing the game like roulette is the guy you make your money off of. The one playing it like chess, hopefully, is you. ;)

Also it is possible to use skill to beat Blackjack, because it's also a card game. The problem is that BJ is played against the house so you get thrown out for doing that.
 
B

BomTombadil

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 1, 2013
Total posts
100
Chips
0
Poker is gambling. No matter what. The difference is a good player is +ev and a bad player is -ev. Since anyone can and will lose sometimes it's still gambling.
 
rocket316

rocket316

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Total posts
24
Chips
0
How can you pick out the player at the table that is playing the game like Blackjack, and how do you pick the players who are playing the game like chess?


You should be able to determine quickly the players who are 'gambling' like shoving all in every hand and those who are playing to a well defined winning strategy.

Also, it is impossible to play poker in a manner similar to chess. In chess, the better player will ALWAYS win, but in poker you can play perfectly and still lose. This is why poker can never be considered a 'sport'.
 
A

avus276

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 22, 2013
Total posts
8
Chips
0
I think patience is key. Which is I seem to lose more than win haha
 
aero87

aero87

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 14, 2013
Total posts
283
Chips
0
Anything to do with chance is gambling. In poker you bet when you have a higher chance of winning. (either by good cards or know when you can exploit your opponent)
 
luckytvguy

luckytvguy

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
May 28, 2008
Total posts
604
Chips
0
Poker is gambling. No matter what. The difference is a good player is +ev and a bad player is -ev. Since anyone can and will lose sometimes it's still gambling.
Sometimes,it is like a paradox,people who take poker as a skilled technique make money from those who are just gambling.Or like a double-edged sword.But,I prefer all players play poker like sports.like chess.
 
dudemanstan

dudemanstan

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 11, 2013
Total posts
769
Chips
0
If you really take the time to learn how to play the right way, then for you it will not be gambling. Gambling is putting your money at risk. If your really good at poker your not risking anything imo.
 
Aleksei

Aleksei

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Total posts
1,527
Chips
0
If you really take the time to learn how to play the right way, then for you it will not be gambling. Gambling is putting your money at risk. If your really good at poker your not risking anything imo.
No but you are. That's what regs tend not to get, you're NEVER entitled to the pot, unless you have the nuts. Even a dominated hand wins 1/4 of the time. Hell, even 72o < AA wins 12% of the time.

That's why good BRM is so crucial.
 
arahel_jazz

arahel_jazz

Unbalanced and Committed
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Total posts
6,764
Chips
0
Poker is gambling. No matter what. The difference is a good player is +ev and a bad player is -ev. Since anyone can and will lose sometimes it's still gambling.

Gambling does not include the choice of the player deciding to intentionally win or lose. With Poker, you can intentionally make a decision to lose (fold), or make a calculated determination of the opponent's hand to win (bluff or raise). The "house" cannot influence the outcome of the game. Good fortune to get a hand to play with is like picking a good stock that goes up huge the next day. Is that gambling or just well played? ;)

Other Casino games - the outcome is pre-determined by the house through the odds on craps, roulette, blackjack, even 3-card poker... there is no real choice needed on the part of the player, hence you are gambling on the outcome against those odds.
 
edge28

edge28

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Total posts
31
Chips
0
Playing bad and keep going till you bust... that's the spirit ^^
 
Aleksei

Aleksei

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Total posts
1,527
Chips
0
Gambling does not include the choice of the player deciding to intentionally win or lose. With Poker, you can intentionally make a decision to lose (fold), or make a calculated determination of the opponent's hand to win (bluff or raise). The "house" cannot influence the outcome of the game. Good fortune to get a hand to play with is like picking a good stock that goes up huge the next day. Is that gambling or just well played? ;)
It's technically speaking gambling, because you're staking something on a result that has an element of random chance. Of course, the same can be said about nearly everything in life.

Also blackjack is roughly as much a game of skill as poker, and it can be beat. The problem is that you play Blackjack against the house and when you use skill to profit from it you get thrown out.
 
T

ThatsBone

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 28, 2013
Total posts
4
Chips
0
The person who calls raises with hopes of hitting pairs and then folds when they don't is gambling. The person who this player is folding to on the 80% of the missed flops is the chess player.
 
C

Chemist

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 17, 2009
Total posts
1,480
Chips
0
Is chess a sport?
I thought sport was about the strongest/fastest/bravest/aggressive or best techniques; often with an element of chance like weather, injuries, flukes thrown in to the mix to give the on paper weaker players/teams some chance.
Gambling is risking monies on unknown outcomes, ( a bit like the stock markets then).
So poker is more comparable to day trading than chess,
but does have some similarities to gambling and to sports.

Sports can also be played professionally or for pleasure.

So to answer op's concerns, 'crossing the line' in this context is probably when it is costing more (time or money) than you can afford to pay for the entertainment value.
 
A2345Razz

A2345Razz

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 4, 2012
Total posts
1,190
Chips
0
It is gambling...skilled gambling.

In no way, shape or form is Poker a sport in the classic sense of the word.

I am not sure why so many seem to shrink from admitting poker is a gambling game....never have, never would.

Backgammon is a gambling game as well....
 
Related Gambling Guides: AU Gambling - CA Gambling - UK Gambling - NZ Gambling - Online Gambling
Top