How do you explain to your family and friends that poker isn't gambling?

[dreamer13]

Poker is a sport and there is no need to explain anything to the family, they will understand everything themselves. It would be nice to make a high-quality movie dedicated to the game, because since the time of the Rounders tape (1998), nothing sensible has appeared in wide distribution. Poker is not a roulette or a slot, but an intellectual discipline.

 

[TeUnit]

I like to explain it as a skilled based game that is in many ways similar to investments. Just like in investments you are analyzing a situation and making a decision to try to maximize your expected return.

 

[VVi10]

For me is just to explain that is a game that involves betting, but the difference it’s that is not just betting. There are several points that make the poker itself and the betting is one, as like probability, know the positions in the table, the action that each player make an etc. So finally it’s a sport that involve too many points and need a lot of study.

 

[Poker Orifice]

You are the type of person which make other, lesser forums the shitpool they are. Please elevate your standard.

Thanks for letting me know what 'type' I am. Did you read the responses in this thread prior to mine? Perhaps you could elevate your reading comprehension (or maybe read before your 7th or 8th beer)

 

[puzzlefish]

Thanks for letting me know what 'type' I am. Did you read the responses in this thread prior to mine? Perhaps you could elevate your reading comprehension (or maybe read before your 7th or 8th beer)

He's pretty spot on. What line of cocaine are you on?

 

[MrPokerVerse]

If looking to sell it to family members, it can be compared to casino gambling. Where you're playing the people at the table and not the house. What ever way you spin it, still gambling.

 

[Acechador]

You don't have to, because in the eyes of the vast majority, poker is a game of betting and not of probabilities, where if you study, practice and are disciplined, you can win a lot of money professionally.

 

[Grabobbe]

Agree with most people. It is hard to explain, since it is a game of chance for money and therefore gambling. The fact that it is partly skill, doesn’t change that. 🙂

 

[tihomir_kula]

If I don't lose a lot of money, nobody notices my poker game and results.

 

[Poker Orifice]

He's pretty spot on. What line of cocaine are you on?

Is that the best you can do?

 

[arshuns]

Poker is a very fun game. The main thing is not to get carried away too much. And then everything will be fine and there is no need to explain anything to anyone.

 

[Niykk]

Tell'em you can choose to lose every hand and in gambling you don't have this choice.
This will certainly ease them of their worries

 

[puzzlefish]

Is that the best you can do?

No. But that's what is prescribed.

 

[CryptoBlood]

Very easy,I play freerolls and I do not risk my own money so I am not gambling with my own money and they see that I play with other players and win nice amount from freerolls and like that way they see that it is different then other games.

 

[Gotmog1]

The only way to prove to friends that poker is not a game of chance is to teach them how to play poker, hook them up on poker

 

[whiskers77]

My mum was similar once and thought, I could be gambling-addicted, just because of the amount of time, that I spent with MTTs and so on.

But after showing her the results after one year and telling her, that my poker income was more than one month's salary from my job over the year,
she became kinda convinced. It is normal for her meanwhile to ask me, if I will play later some games when we have a phone call in the afternoon.

And then I tell her, yes, I will play this and that. I will play League, I will play only freerolls. On the weekend I will have to go home early,
because of a bigger MTT, that I want to play or won a ticket for. And she always wishes me meanwhile good luck and good success.

 

[azteca6]

It's actually a game of chance but you bet so there's nothing to explain. You can say that it is an investment but in the end it ends up being a bet.

 

[jaymfc]

Don't tell them, show them. let the money do the explaining.

 

[SopianaeExtra]

Thanks for letting me know what 'type' I am. Did you read the responses in this thread prior to mine? Perhaps you could elevate your reading comprehension (or maybe read before your 7th or 8th beer)

Well, I'm not interested in an insults competition with you, but I just wanted to let you know that your tone is neither appreciated or welcomed anywhere.

 

[yuriko oyama]

people will probably change their minds about poker only when you start seeing significant financial returns.
unfortunately until then, people will always doubt.

 

[Ciro Santos]

The game is Luck. Bad luck is when you find someone who knows how to play better

 

[Ciro Santos]

 

[Pokerpoet2]

If we played "Bridge" there would be no problem as people believe it to be a nice relaxing game that is played by elderly Women at a Bridge Club! That is the impression most people have.
Poker however is portrayed in a darker atmosphere of smoky back rooms, played by Thugs and Gangsters because that's what they see in the Cinema.
You cannot change peoples views of how they perceive a game that has historically had a bad reputation, I have had the same reaction from some Friends and Family that believe it is a Major road to Hell and Damnation!
I have never made a deposit on any poker site, and as far as I am concerned the buy-in I pay to play in any game is always less than what some of my Friends lose at the Bookies, or pay to watch 22 grown men kick a ball around a field for 90 minutes!
Poker is a game of Skill! and although there is an element of chance, as there is when you are playing any game that requires a shuffled deck of cards, Primarily you still have to work out the mathematics of the game in your head. That is where the Skill comes into the game, knowing when to call, raise or fold, make a difference between winning or losing!
Sometimes I invite people to come and watch me play, or just watch an On-line Tournament so that I can explain the game as it happens! I still have not had any takers!

Good Luck on convincing your Family and Friends, Because I know you will need it!

 

[idhemmy]

You can use analogies to help them understand the skill-based nature of poker. For example, you could compare it to playing chess or making investments in the stock market, where strategic decision-making and risk management are key to success

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

Hello everyone in the CardsChat community

For years I have wanted to dedicate myself seriously to poker and take it as a Business or Profession, because I have always had an interest in poker, I have read books, seen countless videos and articles whenever time allows, etc.
My interest is to continue on the path of improvement and constant learning so that one day I can play professionally.

This interest has made many of my friends worry about me and advise me to “play it easy” since poker is a game and falling into the habit of gambling “is the worst”. I explain to them that if you play with bankroll and with micro-limits and little by little you increase it, winning at poker becomes more of a mathematical task than a matter of chance and that the latter practically disappears from the equation until it becomes mere statistics and probability, but not everyone wants to see it.

My mother, for her part, says that what I'm doing is wasting time and you're getting old with that gambling addiction. Many times it has made me lose motivation. The truth is that my mother always looks for the negative side of everything, it is as they say "Fatalist". Without a doubt this represents a cross that I have to carry because in my family they will interpret this as an outbreak of compulsive gambling, but anyway I explain what I said before but it does not fully convince them.

If someone could give me some pointers on what to do and show my close friends that this hobby is no different from spending money on books, video games, etc., and that it can also be an interesting source of money if taken seriously. homework and studied about it.

I've asked this of other poker players and some have told me not to waste time explaining why strategies win in poker and it's not just dumb luck. Just don't tell me what I do for a living until I get good results.

What do the colleagues think?

Hey Enrique. Congrats on planning a poker path and taking the steps to achieve financial independence. I kind of understand wanting to get loved ones behind you in a positive manner. There's nothing like a good support group, just like the CC community. I would like to point out that this is ultimately up to you and you're the one who's going to be making the decisions and grinding it out for your livelihood, so make sure it's what you really want to do.
As far as convincing anyone other than a poker player that what we're doing is not gambling, good luck. Every time 2 or more players move all-in before the river it's gambling. Investing in a company through a broker or some sort of cyber-trading is gambling, too. If you peel back enough layers everything we're doing is a gamble. Using accumulated knowledge to make a calculated decision for monetary gain is an investment. In other words, using your poker skills to make a living makes you an investor. So, if you ever have to justify playing poker for a living just say you're a mono-management financial advisor.