Is Poker Gambling?

[iFishForFlush]

Poker is one of the more complex forms of gambling, but nonetheless gambling: the decision making, reading of opponents, pattern analysis, odd calculation is the skill portion, but luck is still involved so unless you play home games and take turns dealing and you stack the deck, yeah poker is a form of gambling.

 

[MoryMorte]

I think it is gambling in short run but in long run, it is not!
The more you play, the less the effect of chance become. (makes it less gambly)

Sometimes, you get those up swing and down swings which is the gambling part of it. You never see a fish wining a long tournament. They may win a 3 hr tournament at max, but more that that it is not going to happen.
So long run, less gamble!

 

[feecg]

I don't think poker is gambling, cause it's a game of choices. I mean it has the gamble aspect cause you need to pay the buy-ins to play a game that use cards a probabilities, but it is mostly a game of choice that involves luck, like most things in life. For example, let's say you studied for a test, but you didn't give your best, the probability of getting a good grade is considerable, cause you don't know what question you will have to answer, but you studied, although you didn't gave your best. Now the guy who studied a lot and gave his blood for this test, has bigger chance to get better grade than you, cause he studied more and the probabilities to have in the test a question that he studied and knows the answer is pretty high. This is just one example, but in poker it's almost the same, the guy who studied and practiced have better chacnes of taking the best of the hands he chose to play, but will there be hands that he know that is better to fold too. Now, the guy who didn't study and practice, will surely make a lot of bad decisions that will lead him to lose on the game.

 

[Alex Sentsov]

Of course. Like football, basketball and others.

 

[Desert Red]

Yes and no

A curious hybrid of gambling and skill. No one can deny the role of luck in poker, but there's no way the same group of players end up, tournament after tournament, either cashing or at the FT.

 

[meagain00]

A curious hybrid of gambling and skill. No one can deny the role of luck in poker, but there's no way the same group of players end up, tournament after tournament, either cashing or at the FT.

I agree 100%!

meagain00

 

[Odysseus101]

Of course poker is gambling! Without the monetary component who would play?

OP you sound like one who says that horse racing would still be around if there were no betting. The gambling aspect makes it interesting. I've bet on races, and if weren't for the gambling nobody would care.

 

[walluyo]

Of course. Like football, basketball and others.

like football and basketball? i dont think so.

 

[alar2080]

Yes Poker is gambling of course and without any doubt. I think not only poker is gambling, i think that any game may by gambling

 

[Sonny87]

Yes. Ofcourse

 

[Davlic]

I think for someone poker as a game of chance, but for others it is a sport. for me personally it is a sport

 

[milka1605]

Definitely poker is a game of chance. From slot machines except it differs only in the fact that poker is not 100% dependent on luck. All the same poker player has an impact on the success of the game. He has a chance to change the course of the game in their favor.

 

[oksanamk]

of corse not,online poker is not tru poker

 

[olfabiolo]

Certainty skill game

 

[mycashier]

yes gambling... without something that tempts us, it won't be fun or risky ($)

 

[skavenger]

This discussion is very long, but in fact, it comes down to the concept that you play and the sport ... if you consider that the skill influences the result, then the sport, if you consider that luck influences the result, then Game ... just decide on the concepts and you will see an answer

 

[grinya774]

Yes poker is a gambling game

 

[uready4dis]

its not gambling if you control your luck at the table but if u like going all in pre flop then yes its gambling

 

[kapos77]

Poker isn't gambling-there is far too much skill involved for it to be gambling.

 

[Ivab]

Poker is a card game for money. Therefore, poker is certainly a game of chance. I think the rest of the arguments do not count. Poker is a game of chance and a point.
______________________________________
Good luck in the game and life

 

[bnasp2]

For some poker pros, its a sport, like a chess.
But for most of casual poker players (so most of players), its game of chance. According your skill you can be a bit profitable, but in long term you will always loose (not counting promotions, freerolls etc.).

So even Im a poker fan and winning player I agree that poker should have similar some government regulations. Reasonable regulations of course, not like in Czech republic these days. We have mandatory license for all poker rooms since 1st Jan 2017, but stupid ministry was not able to process any application or prepare player verification process. So now we have poker ban like in US. Probably for couple of months.

 

[57noona]

Poker is a game of skill. But I think it still is gambling because you use money to bet and raise with. I also think the stock market is a form of gambling.

 

[kazmeer]

To someone who doesn't play, yes its just gambling. To people like us who play multiple times a week if not every day definitely not. To me its not because poker is one of the only gambling games that isn't pure luck and takes skill, patience, math, and good player reading to win. i see it as work more than gambling.

 

[Ly4nik]

As for me, so poker is more of a lottery, in which your skill a little increases your chances of winning.

 

[HennieP]

Can you stop a guy with 77 against your AA from getting a 7 on the river to beat you? No? Then it's gambling.