Is poker gambling, yes or no?

[eberetta1]

Poker, if money is involved, is gambling no matter how you slice it. So do you eat at a spendy sit down restaurant or at a cheap fast food restaurant today. One can set you back pretty far and the other is cheap enough that you can also go out tomorrow.

 

[redmast]

I don't doubt poker is a game of chance at all.

 

[dajallina]

Without a doubt, poker is a gambling game. Who claims otherwise himself is deceiving himself.

 

[amonlima]

It is actually not a matter of opinion.

Gambling is the act of wagering or betting money or something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the intent to win more money or things of value than was wagered. Therefore, whenever you buy-in to play poker, it is gambling.

You are very wrong! There is a small amount of luck and bad luck, but when you put it in the long term, the return is certain, sometimes it can be more than expected or less, but the return always comes. Example: A good player, who plays tournaments with buys up to $1000, usually has an expected return of approximately 20%. That is, for every 10000 games he will have a margin of return on investment of approximately 20 thousand dollars, but this is not exact, it may be that the return comes up or down a little. Therefore, if you beat the field you play, you will certainly have these profits, because the end is always predictable but the middle/beginning is not, because the variables will come into play.

 

[Sullivanryn88]

I’m trying to consider all options that this maybe a rhetorical question or some type of trick maybe. Haven’t come to my conclusion on that matter. Although, poker is most certainly gambling. Was gunna get the definition for you but someone beat me to it. Good luck

 

[Emily Trott]

It is definitely gambling, because it involves wagering money in the hope that you will win the other person(s) money. Playing the stock, commodities, or bond markets is also gambling though people like to put on airs by saying that it is investing. At it's heart though you are just betting that you will make a profit.

 

[black and]

I personally don't believe that it is, yes, money is involved in this game, but there are other games and tournaments that also involves money. Also unlike typical casino games like Blackjack, more skill than luck is involved to do well in this game.

I'm curious to hear what you guys think.

I believe that poker is 100% gambling. But for me it's great fun and I don't see anything wrong with it. Disciplined players are not threatened by gambling. On the contrary, it is great entertainment and an opportunity to earn money.

 

[UnderDawg5501]

Like it or not, it is gambling. You may have an edge by studying, and learning how to play sucessfully. BUT, for every dollar you make, someone looses a dollar... The money does not appear out of thin air, and the casino's are not giving it away..

So, you bet that you can play better than the next person. It is a gamble.

 

[Murasaki]

It's clear now that poker is gambling in general, I like to thank all who responded and explained why this game is gambling, even if there's more skill involved than other games like blackjack.

 

[Axmanace]

It's clear now that poker is gambling in general, I like to thank all who responded and explained why this game is gambling, even if there's more skill involved than other games like blackjack.

I feel like there needs to be major correction to this that no one mentioned.

Tournaments are not gambling.

At least not based on the definition of the word.

In a tournament - you pay to compete.
The individual bets have no monetary value.

You don’t place any “wagers”. The buy in doesn’t count as a bet.

if it did - you’d have to consider any competitive event with a buy-in as ‘gambling’

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

When you invest in an opportunity to make a return profit and are aware of the "non-guaranteed" risks involved, it's gambling. It doesn't matter whether it's poker, bingo, the lottery, property investments, stocks, bitcoin, etc. Having a skill set to make informed decisions separates the good investments from the flips. AA: good investment. 72off-suit: not so good investment. Pennsylvania Ave.: good investment. Baltic Ave: not so good investment.
The variance is where the gamble comes in.
I lost my ass by the big-stack at the table tonight. With the blinds 600/1200 and a small raise from the big-stack to my immediate right, I raised it up in 2nd seat w/QQ to 8K and everyone folds except the big-stack who insta-calls. After a check-call flop bet we both check the turn that pairs the board; a 4 hits the river and he shoves all in. Mind you, the flop was 3A5 w/a 3 on the turn. He has everyone at the table covered and like an idiot I just don't believe him, and I call only to see him turn over 62. Now he can put a hotel on Baltic.
Sorry, still a little steamy. Anyway, I think I knew better to call but I did anyway. My point is I knew to fold but didn't, so I was, very much, gambling at that point. I can live w/that. I hate it but all I can do is learn from it.

 

[UnderDawg5501]

I feel like there needs to be major correction to this that no one mentioned.

Tournaments are not gambling.

If you want to look at it that way, a lottery is not a gamble. You BUY a piece of paper with a number on it. If that number matches the number reveiled whenever, you get a prize. If not, oh well.... And so on...

With a tournament, you are betting you can beat most of the people involved. Cash is in in the prize pool, not on the table, that's all..

 

[valen.bs.95]

Everyone has their own opinion on this question)
I think yes - it's gambling for money

 

[Stringy]

bit of skill and deffo some gambling. or it's gambling until you have the absolute nuts

 

[RENEY444]

Poker is poker , not gambling ! Poker , bridge , backgammon , gin ,etc all have luck involved of course but in the long run skill is rewarded .

 

[roberto_overloaded]

Spin'nGo's(500 starting chips) and frerolls with hyper speed and 1000 starting chips is mostly gambling. there's luck needed and some skills.

 

[pankoffff]

Of course, any game where you can win or lose money is considered a gambling game.

 

[thedarkman]

Gambling is waging money - or something else - on something with an undecided outcome. This outcome can be in the past, ie genuinely unknown. If you can win - however slight the chance, as in a lottery for example, or lose, then it is gambling.

 

[Fushicho]

Yes it is gambling, cause you don't have any control over the outcomes.

I agree, there is skill in limiting or effecting those outcome, but actual control is a myth.

 

[Axmanace]

If you want to look at it that way, a lottery is not a gamble. You BUY a piece of paper with a number on it. If that number matches the number reveiled whenever, you get a prize. If not, oh well.... And so on...

With a tournament, you are betting you can beat most of the people involved. Cash is in in the prize pool, not on the table, that's all..

By this logic golf, tennis, boxing, really any competitive sport with an entry fee is gambling.

‘You are betting you can beat most of the people involved” can be applied to literally any activity - even professional chess.

Lottos represent a wager. It’s different.

 

[UnderDawg5501]

Lottos represent a wager. It’s different.

How is a "wager" different from any bet you place on the felt? A bet is a bet is a bet.. As the saying goes, a rose by any other name is still a rose.

 

[Axmanace]

How is a "wager" different from any bet you place on the felt? A bet is a bet is a bet.. As the saying goes, a rose by any other name is still a rose.

Because it represents an actual $ amount?

You can sell / give away a lotto ticket

You can’t sell the chips in a tournament.
(They are effectively worthless).

Cash games are gambling (technically) because chips actually have monetary value there.

 

[YuriSLopes]

Oh mine...

There's always a thread with this sort of question.

When I'm getting lucky at poker I start to worry.

Cause when you rely on luck you put reason aside and open space for big mistakes.

Luck will definitely make you play "better" which isn't the proper word.

But when you're doing good you get a confidence boost and your game might improve as long as you don't get cocky.

But here in brazil poker was forbidden and only got legal cause it's now considered a mind game just like chess.

So luck is a reality in poker but shouldn't be a factor.

If you take luck as a factor in poker you probably won't last long.

Work on your math, probabilities, game strategy, psychology, BRM... And you might last in this great game.

Wish y'all the fattest pots at the felt.

 

[YuriSLopes]

Yes it is gambling, cause you don't have any control over the outcomes.

You don't have any control over the outcome? Well, if you're aware of your position at the table, your equity, villains VPIP/PFR, if you can raise, fold or call you have plenty amount of samples to control the outcome buddy. The outcome doesn't have to be a specific card at turn, flop or river.

 

[UngureanuDan]

Skill but also luck, but with more practice is less luck than skill