Online Gambling

DZGirl · #1 09-13-2004, 12:15 PM

Lately my boyfriend and his friends have been "addicted" to Party Poker. (I use the term 'addicted' loosely, as they are not really addicted, but have been on a lot more recently than they used to). I am not really a big fan of it because I see it as throwing away your money and we usually end up fighting when he plays, but I just wanted to see if anyone else out there is a Party Poker (or any other online gambling site) addict.

jharb · #2 09-13-2004, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DZGirl
Lately my boyfriend and his friends have been "addicted" to Party Poker. (I use the term 'addicted' loosely, as they are not really addicted, but have been on a lot more recently than they used to). I am not really a big fan of it because I see it as throwing away your money and we usually end up fighting when he plays, but I just wanted to see if anyone else out there is a Party Poker (or any other online gambling site) addict.

My ex was addicted (in my opinion) to the online gambling sites. He even wrote a computer program working out the odds at each site. I think the online gambling is a little sad because you don't even get the advantages or excitement of a real casino!

KSig RC · #3 09-13-2004, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DZGirl
Lately my boyfriend and his friends have been "addicted" to Party Poker. (I use the term 'addicted' loosely, as they are not really addicted, but have been on a lot more recently than they used to). I am not really a big fan of it because I see it as throwing away your money and we usually end up fighting when he plays, but I just wanted to see if anyone else out there is a Party Poker (or any other online gambling site) addict.

I play almost exclusively on ultimatebet, but occasionally on royal vegas or pokerroom (depending on my tournament desires etc).

My bankroll is pretty healthy; in fact, buddies of mine who have more free time regularly pay rent w/ winnings.

If your boy is losing beyond his means, he may have a problem. If he simply enjoys playing cards, then you have a problem - that is, he's not really 'throwing away his money' any more than going to the movies or etc is 'throwing away money.'

It's entertainment and competition at once - and unlike real casinos, which are not really "exciting" jharb, but instead usually dirty, loud, and expensive due to the rake, you can play while watching the game, or a movie, or reading. Again - if he has an actual gambling problem, you should get him help, but I think you misunderstand poker.

POKER IS NOT REALLY "GAMBLING" IN ITS TRUEST FORM.

The fact that the game is played against live players, and not against the 'house' or a set of implied odds, makes it a competition - the money is simply how you keep score. Now, poker has exploded lately, and most people suck, true - but it's still just another way of spending the entertainment dollar. It's not like betting on football or the roulette wheel, where the expected value is implicitly negative over time - here, you essentially 'make your own odds' through skillful play.

Maybe you should sit down w/ him one day, play a few hands, and talk about why he enjoys it - then, discuss your concerns about gambling problems, and let him know that you worry for that reason and that reason alone. Hopefully then you'll get it - it's not 'throwing money away' automatically. Honestly, I could write a novel about this subject, and I will respond to any serious inquiries you have - but I'll leave you with this: we've seen many fewer issues w/ girlfriends getting pissed about poker ever since we started integrating them into our regular games. Fact is, some are pretty frigging good, and they start to get it: it's not a pure game of chance, as you would expect w/ 'gambling' but rather a game, like any other, with rules and skills involved. This leads me to believe their concerns were more over the lost time w/ their men, and not with the game itself. Comments?

-RC
--had this conversation before, obviously

jharb · #4 09-13-2004, 02:30 PM

He wasn't playing just poker though, he was playing baccarat and other games at these online casinos. He doesn't really win that much either. Also this wasn't the reason we broke up, it was other issues including the fact that we both had changed since the relationship had started.

I enjoy playing poker, but I think it's kinda weird that he had stopped doing his homework, stopped studying for his actuary exam, and stopped attending fraternity functions (including chapter at times) to play baccarat, craps and other online casino games. He was also using his student loans not to pay his house bill but to pay for his online gambling.

valkyrie · #5 09-13-2004, 02:32 PM

The most excitement I ever saw at a real casino was when 97 year old Maude nearly set herself on fire while chainsmoking on oxygen. Seriously, I've stepped foot into a casino once in my life and it was so depressing I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry.

I've played online poker a few times, but only for pretend money because I tend to do well but don't really know what I'm doing and don't want to lose real money. I think it's kind of fun.

jharb · #6 09-13-2004, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie
The most excitement I ever saw at a real casion was when 97 year old Maude nearly set herself on fire while chainsmoking on oxygen. Seriously, I've stepped foot into a casino once in my life and it was so depressing I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry.

I've played online poker a few times, but only for pretend money because I tend to do well but don't really know what I'm doing and don't want to lose real money. I think it's kind of fun.

I like the casino boats in southern IN/southwestern OH. I've had fun at those, but I think it was more because we didn't get all crazy and it was more of a family bonding thing with the women in my family. We went during the afternoon though and it wasn't depressing in my opinion.

KSigkid · #7 09-13-2004, 03:20 PM

I don't really see a problem, unless he can't pay rent, bills, etc. Otherwise, it's no more harmless than other diversions such as shopping, going to sporting events, etc.

My best friend from home is an avid poker player...he does well though and I believe has played with professionals, so it doesn't look like he has a problem.

KSig RC · #8 09-13-2004, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jharb
He wasn't playing just poker though, he was playing baccarat and other games at these online casinos. He doesn't really win that much either. Also this wasn't the reason we broke up, it was other issues including the fact that we both had changed since the relationship had started.

I enjoy playing poker, but I think it's kinda weird that he had stopped doing his homework, stopped studying for his actuary exam, and stopped attending fraternity functions (including chapter at times) to play baccarat, craps and other online casino games. He was also using his student loans not to pay his house bill but to pay for his online gambling.

This behavior is "gambling addiction" defined - this is exactly what you should look for when examining the behavior of someone you care about, and I feel like you would have been perfectly justified in breaking up w/ the dude for purely this reason.

I hope you didn't take my previous post in a bad way, duder, I was only using your name to point out that online play (specifically poker, b/c i don't play anything else) has some advantages over 'brick and mortar' casinos . . . although online players are usually a bit better, so I generally hit the boats pretty often for the extra cash influx, regardless of how infinitely disgusting Lakeside (and its patrons) can be.