I know that gambling is a sin but if you win more than lose and take a lot of the luck out of poker, is playing poker still gambling? Is it possible to catogorize playing poker as investing rather than gambling? This is because gambling is a sin but investing is not.
2007-01-29 06:13:15 · 10 answers · asked by Lopez_216 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Gambling
For those of you who say that there is always an element of chance involved that is why it is considered gambling, there is also chance involved in investing it is not a sure thing. Why can't we categorize poker as investing?
2007-01-29 06:31:55 · update #1
First, on your part about gambling vs. investing:
In investing, there is kind of an intrinsic growth, ie. it's not a zero-sum game. Say that the entire economy is made up of 9 stocks, and 9 people each buy 1 stock. Theoretically, everyone could make money, since the economy as a whole can grow. However, if 9 people sit and play poker against each other, there's no way that everyone can win. It's not even a zero-sum game, it's a negative-sum game, since the house is taking a cut. The total winnings of the table will be negative.
Also, the government requires true "investing" to have some central economic purpose. For example, futures markets on commodities (ie. gold, wheat, etc.) are regulated as exchanges for investors because they allow the gold, wheat, etc. markets to operate. However, if you start a futures market for who will win the Super Bowl, you aren't satisfying an economic need and you'd be regulated as a gambling operation.
Second, on your original point about whether or not it is gambling:
It depends on your definition of gambling, but I still consider it to be gambling no matter how good you are. Even if you are a long-term winner, there is still huge variability in your results. There is no one that has played poker for a long time that hasn't had a stretch where they lost a lot of their money, and it doesn't matter if it's the worst player in the world or the best player in the world. You can make the right play almost every time, and can still lose big in the short-term.
However, I don't put it in the same category as playing roulette or slots. At least if you're a winning poker player you can win long-term, unlike in other casino games. It all depends on the definition you use.
2007-01-29 10:13:00 · answer #1 · answered by Sanjay M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, investing is gambling too. But smart investing and smart poker playing are both good ways to make money but there is still the small element of short term risk that will be overcome by the long term advantage the investor and the poker player will turn a profit. As for why it is a sin, well we are a capitalist society with a large Christian population who see gambling as sinful (for the most part.) So a capitalist form of gambling in investing is seen as OK, while another profitable form of gambling poker is seen as sinful. It doesn't make any sense. A poker pro wrote something along these lines in one of the tips from the Pros archived on http://www.theultimatepokerguide.com but really no matter how much you write on the subject it just makes no sense.
People just focus on the college kid who loses a lot of money on poker, but not on the people who lose it all on the stock market. It isn't fair and probably never will be.
2007-01-29 11:14:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poker is gambling. Good poker players consistently can give themselves an edge in the hands they play so that over time, they win money, but the edges they get themselves are still gambles. They are positive gambles, but still gambles.
So if you add up a whole bunch of positive gambles over the long run, you have a positve outcome. It's a skill to consistently manipulate your situations at the poker table to yeild you positive gambles.
2007-02-01 01:55:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, to tell u the truth it is. Investing consists of putting your money in a business and when this business works and makes profit (if it doesn't and it brings loss) then u gain (or lose). Gambling has to do with luck. Luck cannot be predicted and it mostly brings loss most of the times. The problem is that gambling becomes an addiction and u never stop. Beware, my friend of its dangers and good luck in your life.
2007-01-29 06:32:40 · answer #4 · answered by drfarfour 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's always an element of chance, so yes, you're gambling. It's not gambling only if it's a sure thing.
2007-01-29 06:20:37 · answer #5 · answered by gamblin man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If what you are playing is no longer gambling to you (like you are counting cards or something), it's illegal in most places. Good luck and don't get caught! Food for thought..."Investing" doesn't take place in commercialized, smokey, bar-like places that serve free alcohol.
2007-01-29 09:58:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its still considered gambling because you are taking a gamble by risking your money no matter how much you win!
Good Luck Winning!
2007-01-29 06:19:23 · answer #7 · answered by XmarcusX 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The slots are confusing? There is nothing to understand, you put in your money and pull the lever (or push the button). That's it. If you can't comprehend that, there is really no point in trying to learn games where you'll actually have to do something.
2016-03-29 08:17:17 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poker should be categorize as a SKILL game.
2007-01-29 06:19:51 · answer #9 · answered by pokercoach 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is undoubtedly gambling
2007-01-29 06:20:43 · answer #10 · answered by jim06744 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋