Can Online Poker Be a Tool Against Poverty in Developing Countries?

[fortunatolf]

Hi everyone at CardsChat,

I wanted to start a discussion about an aspect of online poker that goes beyond the game itself: its potential socio-economic impact, particularly in developing countries or nations with fewer traditional economic opportunities.

For many of us, poker is a passionate hobby, an intellectual challenge, or even a sport. However, I've been reflecting on whether, for some individuals in certain parts of the world, online poker could represent something more – perhaps one of the few accessible paths to potentially improving their financial situation and that of their families significantly.

The Arguments For:

• Relative Accessibility: Compared to starting a traditional business, the initial investment can be lower (though a bankroll is still essential).
• Online Resources: Access to study materials, videos, and communities (like this one!) allows for learning and improvement regardless of geographic location.
• Meritocracy (partial): Success heavily relies on skill, study, discipline, and emotional control – factors not directly dependent on one's background.
• Global Market: The ability to play against people worldwide and potentially earn in stronger currencies (USD, EUR) can have a disproportionately large financial impact in countries with weaker currencies.

The Harsh Reality and Risks:

It's crucial to keep our feet on the ground. The path in poker is extremely difficult.

• Not Guaranteed: The vast majority don't become long-term winners. It demands talent, immense hard work, and resilience to handle variance (the downswings).
• Financial & Personal Risks: The risk of losing savings and the danger of gambling addiction are very real and can be devastating.
• Barriers: Access to stable internet, electricity, and a suitable device are still luxuries in many areas.
• Not a Magic Bullet: Poker cannot be seen as the answer to structural poverty issues, but perhaps as a potential individual opportunity for some.

For Discussion:

What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe online poker can genuinely offer a chance for social mobility for some in these contexts? Have you seen or heard stories (both successes and failures) that illustrate this? Or do you think the risks and difficulties make this view overly idealistic?

I'd be very interested to hear the community's diverse perspectives.

Cheers, Lucas Fortunato

 

[s0ftdumps]

In regions where traditional economic opportunities are limited, online poker could indeed serve as an unconventional way for individuals to improve their financial situation. With relatively low barriers to entry compared to many other professions, someone with the right skill set and discipline could generate income that might be otherwise unattainable.

 

[RALF_AK]

...anywhere in the world, poker can be a life-changing opportunity, but the game requires skill, technique and, above all, a deeper knowledge, not just knowing the rules of the game. Managing the downswing and your bankroll will lead you to a promising future in the game...and always seeking knowledge.

 

[dorsk]

Hi everyone at CardsChat,

I wanted to start a discussion about an aspect of online poker that goes beyond the game itself: its potential socio-economic impact, particularly in developing countries or nations with fewer traditional economic opportunities.

For many of us, poker is a passionate hobby, an intellectual challenge, or even a sport. However, I've been reflecting on whether, for some individuals in certain parts of the world, online poker could represent something more – perhaps one of the few accessible paths to potentially improving their financial situation and that of their families significantly.

The Arguments For:

• Relative Accessibility: Compared to starting a traditional business, the initial investment can be lower (though a bankroll is still essential).
• Online Resources: Access to study materials, videos, and communities (like this one!) allows for learning and improvement regardless of geographic location.
• Meritocracy (partial): Success heavily relies on skill, study, discipline, and emotional control – factors not directly dependent on one's background.
• Global Market: The ability to play against people worldwide and potentially earn in stronger currencies (USD, EUR) can have a disproportionately large financial impact in countries with weaker currencies.

The Harsh Reality and Risks:

It's crucial to keep our feet on the ground. The path in poker is extremely difficult.

• Not Guaranteed: The vast majority don't become long-term winners. It demands talent, immense hard work, and resilience to handle variance (the downswings).
• Financial & Personal Risks: The risk of losing savings and the danger of gambling addiction are very real and can be devastating.
• Barriers: Access to stable internet, electricity, and a suitable device are still luxuries in many areas.
• Not a Magic Bullet: Poker cannot be seen as the answer to structural poverty issues, but perhaps as a potential individual opportunity for some.

For Discussion:

What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe online poker can genuinely offer a chance for social mobility for some in these contexts? Have you seen or heard stories (both successes and failures) that illustrate this? Or do you think the risks and difficulties make this view overly idealistic?

I'd be very interested to hear the community's diverse perspectives.

Cheers, Lucas Fortunato

Interesting (copy paste)
I don’t think people from development countries have the sufficient opportunity to earn money from poker. There is a reason that they come from development countries. One of them is being lazy and unemployed by default. Perhaps even illiterate. The most resourceful flee to Europe leaving a brain drain. They are the losers of capitalism and poker is capitalism at its core.
Another is lack of funds to play and buy poker literature. A third one is a huge lack of skills. Have you even heard of a poker grinder from Sub Saharan Africa? Could you imagine a poker kingpin from Rwanda, Congo, Niger, Botswana, Burundi, Djibouti,
Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Mali, Eritrea, Swaziland…
On another continent we have the proud country of india. They have more holy cows than poker players. Sports in India equals cricket. 🏏

 

[infonazar]

People who want to improve their financial situation simply find a job and work hard. Poker can be a job like any other field of activity. Anyone who wants to earn money can do it both by working at a regular job and by playing poker at home on the couch.

 

[fortunatolf]

Interesting (copy paste)
I don’t think people from development countries have the sufficient opportunity to earn money from poker. There is a reason that they come from development countries. One of them is being lazy and unemployed by default. Perhaps even illiterate. They are the losers of capitalism and poker is capitalism at its core.
Another is lack of funds to play and buy poker literature. A third one is a huge lack of skills. Have you even heard of a poker grinder from Sub Saharan Africa? Could you imagine a poker kingpin from Rwanda, Congo, Niger, Botswana, Burundi, Djibouti,
Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Mali, Eritrea, Swaziland…

With all due respect to the @dorsk , I feel I must strongly disagree with several of the generalizations made.

It's undeniable that players in some developing countries may face additional challenges – such as more limited access to large starting bankrolls, perhaps infrastructure instability (internet/power), or even language barriers for some content. Acknowledging these difficulties is fair.

However, using this to justify conclusions about "laziness," "illiteracy," or classifying people as "losers of capitalism" is profoundly misguided, offensive, and demonstrates a significant lack of understanding of reality, bordering on prejudice. Intellectual capacity, work ethic, ambition, and resilience are not monopolies of any nation or socioeconomic group.

The statement that "those who truly want it, can achieve it" might be simplistic in some cases, but the truth is that individual determination opens many doors, especially today. The internet, even with its limitations, has democratized access to poker knowledge in a way unimaginable decades ago. There are countless alternative and accessible ways to learn and improve:

• High-quality free content on YouTube and Twitch.
• Strategy articles on blogs and websites.
• Discussion forums like CardsChat itself, where one can learn immensely from the community.
• Online study groups (many of which are free).

Regarding the need for resources, the idea that you need a high-end PC to play online poker and use supporting software also doesn't match reality. Basic and essential tracking software and HUDs run smoothly on quite modest computers, which are accessible to far more people than often assumed.

Poker is indeed a capitalist game at its core (as the author mentioned), but that also means it can reward skill, discipline, and hard work, regardless of geographical origin. There are talented and dedicated grinders in all parts of the world, including Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Suggesting that high-level players do not or cannot exist from places like Rwanda or Congo, for example, reveals more about the speaker's lack of exposure and information than about the potential of the people living there.

The path is difficult for everyone in poker, but talent and dedication can emerge anywhere.

Just my perspective on the matter.

 

[dorsk]

With all due respect to the @dorsk , I feel I must strongly disagree with several of the generalizations made.

It's undeniable that players in some developing countries may face additional challenges – such as more limited access to large starting bankrolls, perhaps infrastructure instability (internet/power), or even language barriers for some content. Acknowledging these difficulties is fair.

However, using this to justify conclusions about "laziness," "illiteracy," or classifying people as "losers of capitalism" is profoundly misguided, offensive, and demonstrates a significant lack of understanding of reality, bordering on prejudice. Intellectual capacity, work ethic, ambition, and resilience are not monopolies of any nation or socioeconomic group.

The statement that "those who truly want it, can achieve it" might be simplistic in some cases, but the truth is that individual determination opens many doors, especially today. The internet, even with its limitations, has democratized access to poker knowledge in a way unimaginable decades ago. There are countless alternative and accessible ways to learn and improve:

• High-quality free content on YouTube and Twitch.
• Strategy articles on blogs and websites.
• Discussion forums like CardsChat itself, where one can learn immensely from the community.
• Online study groups (many of which are free).

Regarding the need for resources, the idea that you need a high-end PC to play online poker and use supporting software also doesn't match reality. Basic and essential tracking software and HUDs run smoothly on quite modest computers, which are accessible to far more people than often assumed.

Poker is indeed a capitalist game at its core (as the author mentioned), but that also means it can reward skill, discipline, and hard work, regardless of geographical origin. There are talented and dedicated grinders in all parts of the world, including Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Suggesting that high-level players do not or cannot exist from places like Rwanda or Congo, for example, reveals more about the speaker's lack of exposure and information than about the potential of the people living there.

The path is difficult for everyone in poker, but talent and dedication can emerge anywhere.

Just my perspective on the matter.

It’s not meant to be offensiv, just telling an uncomfortable perspective for naive dreamers. But I read your post with great interest. Actually one of the best OP post in a long time. AI is developing big time.

 

[dorsk]

Hi everyone at CardsChat,

I wanted to start a discussion about an aspect of online poker that goes beyond the game itself: its potential socio-economic impact, particularly in developing countries or nations with fewer traditional economic opportunities.

For many of us, poker is a passionate hobby, an intellectual challenge, or even a sport. However, I've been reflecting on whether, for some individuals in certain parts of the world, online poker could represent something more – perhaps one of the few accessible paths to potentially improving their financial situation and that of their families significantly.

The Arguments For:

• Relative Accessibility: Compared to starting a traditional business, the initial investment can be lower (though a bankroll is still essential).
• Online Resources: Access to study materials, videos, and communities (like this one!) allows for learning and improvement regardless of geographic location.
• Meritocracy (partial): Success heavily relies on skill, study, discipline, and emotional control – factors not directly dependent on one's background.
• Global Market: The ability to play against people worldwide and potentially earn in stronger currencies (USD, EUR) can have a disproportionately large financial impact in countries with weaker currencies.

The Harsh Reality and Risks:

It's crucial to keep our feet on the ground. The path in poker is extremely difficult.

• Not Guaranteed: The vast majority don't become long-term winners. It demands talent, immense hard work, and resilience to handle variance (the downswings).
• Financial & Personal Risks: The risk of losing savings and the danger of gambling addiction are very real and can be devastating.
• Barriers: Access to stable internet, electricity, and a suitable device are still luxuries in many areas.
• Not a Magic Bullet: Poker cannot be seen as the answer to structural poverty issues, but perhaps as a potential individual opportunity for some.

For Discussion:

What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe online poker can genuinely offer a chance for social mobility for some in these contexts? Have you seen or heard stories (both successes and failures) that illustrate this? Or do you think the risks and difficulties make this view overly idealistic?

I'd be very interested to hear the community's diverse perspectives.

Cheers, Lucas Fortunato

You can’t compare Africa to brazil. Brazil is a BRIG country and have many great poker players.
As for many Africans being illiterate it is not prejudicial but a core fact. Here is what chat AI says: More than 100 millions of Sub Saharan Africans are illiterate. Tough luck but true.

 

[john_entony]

I wouldn't want to talk about specific countries, as I don't want to offend anyone. But I can say that the smaller your national currency is against the dollar, the more valuable the prize money from poker tournaments will be for buying goods and food in your country.

 

[Diman111]

I think it's too much

 

[BeL1]

the crypto world made it a bit easier because in most of those countries, regulations prohibit withdrawing to the bank account, with crypto its started poping again

 

[Ruslan L]

Online poker is a drop in the ocean in the economic scale of an entire country. In general, society will benefit more if people start cleaning their streets, building roads, planting trees and doing other good things. Online poker is first and foremost an entertainment that is paid for by those who want to have fun and a business that is aimed at generating income for its owners.

 

[choprav]

Sure if they are good at it - with the freerolls can make good cents and dollars which is a lot in those countries...

 

[G0930]

Interesting (copy paste)
I don’t think people from development countries have the sufficient opportunity to earn money from poker. There is a reason that they come from development countries. One of them is being lazy and unemployed by default.

Wow that's some racist shit... 🤦🏼‍♂️

 

[EarnDAStack]

I wouldn't get in the habit of encouraging people to gamble as a way out of economic hardships but I do believe that Poker is a game that over the long term "Rewards" the hard workers

However if you do have an internet connection there are probably things you could do that would carry less risk than wanting to play poker for a living. '

I would recommend that most people start playing poker as a hobby and as they reach a level of success they could consider taking it more seriously, being an outside observer and deciding you want to raise yourself out of poverty by playing poker before you've played is probably not going to lead to a very good place.

But yes, with hard work and dedication to your craft, I believe financial success in poker is possible no matter what your starting financial position is.

Hope this helps!!

GL

EDS

 

[YLAN]

Categorically NO. Online poker is not a tool against poverty. A stable income is necessary just to survive poverty. Poker is not a stable income & could actually cause to loose income driving to more poverty.

Poker does not reward skill, discipline, and hard work automatically. Its a gambling game (reason why its in casinos) where you play your luck. Very few gets the jackpot, some breaks even, & the others get bankrupt.

 

[dorsk]

Wow that's some racist shit... 🤦🏼‍♂️

How can calling someone lazy be racist? Would you call it racism if I were referring to lazy white Austrians. So pulling the race card is woke nonsense. Do you find that the poverty and illiteracy - more than 100 millions - in Sub Saharan Africa is evil white peoples fault. Or could it be a lack of work ethic? A lack of initiative. I suggest you read some Rudyard Kipling and the concept of “The White Man’s Burden.”

 

[tuanuwu]

Hi everyone at CardsChat,

I wanted to start a discussion about an aspect of online poker that goes beyond the game itself: its potential socio-economic impact, particularly in developing countries or nations with fewer traditional economic opportunities.

For many of us, poker is a passionate hobby, an intellectual challenge, or even a sport. However, I've been reflecting on whether, for some individuals in certain parts of the world, online poker could represent something more – perhaps one of the few accessible paths to potentially improving their financial situation and that of their families significantly.

The Arguments For:

• Relative Accessibility: Compared to starting a traditional business, the initial investment can be lower (though a bankroll is still essential).
• Online Resources: Access to study materials, videos, and communities (like this one!) allows for learning and improvement regardless of geographic location.
• Meritocracy (partial): Success heavily relies on skill, study, discipline, and emotional control – factors not directly dependent on one's background.
• Global Market: The ability to play against people worldwide and potentially earn in stronger currencies (USD, EUR) can have a disproportionately large financial impact in countries with weaker currencies.

The Harsh Reality and Risks:

It's crucial to keep our feet on the ground. The path in poker is extremely difficult.

• Not Guaranteed: The vast majority don't become long-term winners. It demands talent, immense hard work, and resilience to handle variance (the downswings).
• Financial & Personal Risks: The risk of losing savings and the danger of gambling addiction are very real and can be devastating.
• Barriers: Access to stable internet, electricity, and a suitable device are still luxuries in many areas.
• Not a Magic Bullet: Poker cannot be seen as the answer to structural poverty issues, but perhaps as a potential individual opportunity for some.

For Discussion:

What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe online poker can genuinely offer a chance for social mobility for some in these contexts? Have you seen or heard stories (both successes and failures) that illustrate this? Or do you think the risks and difficulties make this view overly idealistic?

I'd be very interested to hear the community's diverse perspectives.

Cheers, Lucas Fortunato

Im was born in VietNam, the avg salary here is 3-400$/per month, i just won that in a week of online poker so i think there a chance if you are good enough.

 

[dorsk]

Im was born in VietNam, the avg salary here is 3-400$/per month, i just won that in a week of online poker so i think there a chance if you are good enough.

The work ethic and resilience of people from Vietnam is indeed very high. And the Vietnamese friends of mine are true and fearless gamblers.

 

[G0930]

How can calling someone lazy be racist? Would you call it racism if I were referring to lazy white Austrians. So pulling the race card is woke nonsense. Do you find that the poverty and illiteracy - more than 100 millions - in Sub Saharan Africa is evil white peoples fault. Or could it be a lack of work ethic? A lack of initiative. I suggest you read some Rudyard Kipling and the concept of “The White Man’s Burden.”

No I call you racist because you think the reason developing countries are "developing" is because of lazyness

 

[dorsk]

No I call you racist because you think the reason developing countries are "developing" is because of lazyness

Ok. But this is not what I write if you consider the context. There are many reasons that Sub Saharan people struggle economically. A sparse work ethic is a huge problem. There are historical reasons to that. Primarily the hundreds of years of colonialism and slavery. Alas many countries in Africa have struggled with civil wars, since the border lines were drawn by white imperialists.

 

[ironduke11]

on the face of it it seems like a simple pathway....
however those in the developing world know that there are a variety of considerations that make the volume necessary to make a financial breakthrough in online poker difficult.

 

[Poker Orifice]

Poker does not reward skill, discipline, and hard work automatically. Its a gambling game (reason why its in casinos) where you play your luck. Very few gets the jackpot, some breaks even, & the others get bankrupt.

Honestly seems like you don't understand the game.

 

[Poker Orifice]

Hi everyone at CardsChat,

I wanted to start a discussion about an aspect of online poker that goes beyond the game itself: its potential socio-economic impact, particularly in developing countries or nations with fewer traditional economic opportunities.

For many of us, poker is a passionate hobby, an intellectual challenge, or even a sport. However, I've been reflecting on whether, for some individuals in certain parts of the world, online poker could represent something more – perhaps one of the few accessible paths to potentially improving their financial situation and that of their families significantly.

The Arguments For:

• Relative Accessibility: Compared to starting a traditional business, the initial investment can be lower (though a bankroll is still essential).
• Online Resources: Access to study materials, videos, and communities (like this one!) allows for learning and improvement regardless of geographic location.
• Meritocracy (partial): Success heavily relies on skill, study, discipline, and emotional control – factors not directly dependent on one's background.
• Global Market: The ability to play against people worldwide and potentially earn in stronger currencies (USD, EUR) can have a disproportionately large financial impact in countries with weaker currencies.

The Harsh Reality and Risks:

It's crucial to keep our feet on the ground. The path in poker is extremely difficult.

• Not Guaranteed: The vast majority don't become long-term winners. It demands talent, immense hard work, and resilience to handle variance (the downswings).
• Financial & Personal Risks: The risk of losing savings and the danger of gambling addiction are very real and can be devastating.
• Barriers: Access to stable internet, electricity, and a suitable device are still luxuries in many areas.
• Not a Magic Bullet: Poker cannot be seen as the answer to structural poverty issues, but perhaps as a potential individual opportunity for some.

For Discussion:

What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe online poker can genuinely offer a chance for social mobility for some in these contexts? Have you seen or heard stories (both successes and failures) that illustrate this? Or do you think the risks and difficulties make this view overly idealistic?

I'd be very interested to hear the community's diverse perspectives.

Cheers, Lucas Fortunato

Of course it can!
I see it in the tournament lobbys on GG & pokerstars every single day.

 

[YLAN]

Honestly seems like you don't understand the game.

you're just too naive to comprehend.