Poker and Betting: Defending the Astute Gambler

I play poker and write extensively on the subject on a variety of websites. I also used to work as a Deputy Manager for a large betting establishment in the UK for over 18 months. Everyday my life was surrounded by betting and gambling with hundreds if not thousands of races played out on the big screen before me. The shop was littered with prices, odds, tips and a multitude of gamblers and characters all trying to beat the house. It felt like a different world on occasion. In the media the image of the gambler conjures a hapless figure, but as in many walks of life there are winners and losers in this field. I encountered many of both types whilst working in the industry.

If you announce at a family reunion that you are now a hardened gambler this will probably not be met with encouraging back slaps. People may look uncomfortably at you with pity in their eyes. It is considered by most people to be a losing enterprise, especially as bookmakers are there only to make profit and ban people from the shops if they win too much. That means if they let you bet, they believe they will beat you!

But there is never any consideration given to the fact that you may have a system that picks out consistent winners and an excellent staking plan that helps you take an edge in betting. Poker players, for example, can practise and learn the psychological and actual hand playing skills that give them a tangible edge on the competition. To simply assume that people are randomly gambling is not always correct and I found whilst working in the Industry that most people operating some sort of system either in picking selections or staking. There is also no consideration made by detractors that you conduct your betting with money you can afford to lose. I have never personally had a problem with gambling beyond my means, although I accept that places like gamblers anonymous exist because not everyone has this strength. Whilst addiction is a problem you must always be aware of, some of the best gamblers I have encountered have an incredible hold on their emotions with strong self discipline.

There is a distinct difference between random gamblers and people who gamble sensibly with a strategy. The aspect of gambling that worries me is the hypocrisy, although not malicious, that is given to other forms of gambling that almost make a positive out of what can be a negative and addictive enterprise.

One thing that should never be encouraged is random gambling. Yet many people buy property speculatively without having the necessary research or skills to profit. I worked in the property industry for three years and fount that this type of gambling is every bit as addictive and dangerous as sports betting. The rising market made many wealthy property investors, but the credit crunch now means you need skills as profiting are making serious mistakes is now highly unlikely. Investors are now realising there is a downside to their investments when things go wrong. Property investment is gambling, as is the stock market. Going back to our example of announcing to family you are a gambler, if you reword this to say you are investing in stock markets and acquiring a property portfolio you will probably get those admiring glances not given to even the savvy and winning gamblers.

Random gamblers should be encouraged to either not bet or bet more sensibly. Websites such as this offer assistance and advice for free, so why not use it? I must stress that caring family members are making objections out of love which is never a bad thing, but perhaps they should be aware that people do win from gambling and poker. Try and explain that you are taking part with restrictions and lots of self awareness. Poker players should be aware of the risks and just like the property investors or stock traders, managing these risks and playing within your bankroll is essential to success.
People should be slightly more sceptical of the accepted forms of gambling and be slightly more tolerant of the more frowned upon versions of gambling. They all have one thing in common; in order to win you must beat the house which is never easy.

By Malcolm Clarke

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Tags: betting, gambling, play poker, poker