1. Small Stakes Hold 'Em by Ed Miller, David Sklansky, and Mason Malmuth, Page 19:

"Poker isn't gambling." You have surely heard someone say it. You may have said it yourself. Whoever says it usually really means, "In the long run, everyone expects to receive the same distribution of good and bad hands. Being lucky does not make you a long term winner; playing better than your opponents does. Eventually, the bad players will all lose, and the good players will all win." That is a bit long-winded, though, so most people tend to stick to, "Poker isn't gambling." You are better off not abbreviating, though, because the second statement is true, while the first one is not! Poker is gambling.

Posted at 7:48PM on Sep 17th 2005 by Bill Rini

2. Poker is gambling. Trying to rationalize it does not change its nature. Rather than argue the point or try to "justify" your choice to someone all you can do is be satisfied you have made the correct choice for yourself and live with your decision. It is the same with all of life's choices. Justifying one self to others just complicates your personal journey.

Posted at 9:01PM on Sep 17th 2005 by Halt_1

3. Well, I said there would be controversy, and I am glad you guys didn't disappoint ;) Both very good points, thanks.

I wouldn't dream of trying to justify myself to anyone, as I am very comfortable with my decisions. I merely offer my opinion which we are certainly all entitled to.

I do love hearing other perspectives though. I am not so set in my ways that my opinion won't ever change, so keep the comments coming. :)

Posted at 3:19AM on Sep 18th 2005 by Joanne

4. How about a compromise - poker is gambling, but that doesn't mean that it's a level playing field. In a game like roulette, the house has an incontestable (and in the long run, insurmountable) edge against the players. In poker, players compete against each other, and their relative skill decides, again in the long run, who will win and lose.

Posted at 11:53AM on Sep 18th 2005 by Rod

5. "Roulette" takes the discussion a little off mark. I doubt very many honest people consider roulette a game in the same sense as poker. The discussion was not comparing poker vs other forms of gambling... it was trying to make the point that poker was "not" gambling, which as we play it, it of course is.

Yes skill plays a great part, as does knowledge of the game, and luck. Those elements do not mitigate the central fact that poker is at its heart a game in which you win and lose money. Playing poker for "fun" without risking money is not gambling, add money and it is.

Rather than try to find ways to "justify" ourselves, let us just be comfortable with our choice and revel in our clear conscious... until we go broke….. again ;)

Posted at 1:39PM on Sep 18th 2005 by Halt_1

6. "Roulette" takes the discussion a little off mark. I doubt very many honest people consider roulette a game in the same sense as poker. The discussion was not comparing poker vs other forms of gambling... it was trying to make the point that poker was "not" gambling, which as we play it, it of course is.

Yes skill plays a great part, as does knowledge of the game, and luck. Those elements do not mitigate the central fact that poker is at its heart a game in which you win and lose money. Playing poker for "fun" without risking money is not gambling, add money and it is.

Rather than try to find ways to "justify" ourselves, let us just be comfortable with our choice and revel in our clear conscious... until we go broke….. again ;)

Posted at 6:31PM on Sep 18th 2005 by Halt_1

7. I just tell people, "Yes, it's gambling but the difference between poker and other casino games is that your skill puts you into the position of being the house. The casino doesn't win every win every hand of blackjack but they know that if you keep playing long enough, they'll get all your money. If I'm even marginally better than my opponents, eventually I'll win most of their money."

Posted at 2:51PM on Sep 18th 2005 by Bill Rini