by James
23. December 2009 06:57
Well, this is a Poker Blog, so I think it’s pretty obvious which side we’re hedging our bets on.
Poker is a game of skill and in many pro-poker fronts is not considered to be gambling. Here’s why:
Gambling is associated with luck or chance and with the odds being stacked heavily against you to lose your money. The house will make more money than you if you are gambling over time. This is a fact.
While a certain amount of gambling can take place during a poker game, this generally only happens when a player is behind in a hand and decides to leave their chances ‘up to fate’. If this becomes a habit the player will lose in the long term.
The ‘naturally lucky’ poker players who seem to have ‘good fortune’ on their side are in fact highly skilled and knowledgeable. Skilled poker players also know that if they stick with their skills and knowledge they will have and steady and growing income. This is not gambling. The reason why poker is put in the category of gambling is because casinos like to use poker to attract players, not to make money. Poker players will generally be accompanied by a partner who will play games that truly are a gamble such as slots or craps.