Are you a poker addict?

Did you know that there are now organizations offering assistance to help you get past your poker addiction ? YEP, evidence is the brochure above which somebody emailed to me as a joke but was actually from a real organization in Canada if I'm not mistaken. I certainly wasn't aware that it has now come to a point where online poker is seen as an addiction and people are needing outside help to crack the habit.

Weeeird....

The funny thing is they're saying that Poker is not a sport ........... err ... DUH .... obviously. Whoever claimed it was a sport in the first place must have some loose screws. The only thing we poker players can claim is that its a game that is more skill than luck. And this is obviously evidenced by the number of players who can win consistently at the game.

I am thinking that if you really do have a problem in controlling your finances with regards to your poker playing, then its a compulsive gambling issue rather than a poker issue. It just so happens that poker is the IN thing right now, so your previous gambling habits of betting in the casinos or the NBA are shifted to a different avenue.

So how do we differentiate between a compulsive gambler and your average poker player? Well, if you ask me, if you are playing poker without any intention of learning the math behind it and without any kind of bankroll management plan in place. Then you're pretty much a gambler who relies on luck.

The guy who studies poker theory and has a sound bankroll management plan is also gambling, we obviously cannot deny that. But since he is basing his decisions on mathematical probabilities and is managing his risk correctly. Then he is not much different from the entrepreneur or businessman who gambles by deciding to open a new store. He opens the store because he thinks it will do good and will make him a profit. Although he is not sure of this because of many factors that are beyond his control (economic conditions, competition, etc). But he tries to reduce his risk by coming up with a good business plan and makes sure that he has the capital to make a go of the business. Once he is successful, he then opens other branches.

The poker player is acting in the same rational manner as the businessman. He plays regularly because he is also expecting a profit and he also tries to reduce his risk (bad beats, tilting) by playing according to tried and tested mathematical concepts and via sound bankroll management.

So there should not be any kind of addiction talk involved. It is all about making positive expectation decisions. Simply put, you are playing because it is profitable to play. And it is just human nature to pursue something that is beneficial to you.

The ultimate test I guess is something along the lines of the following situation. Let's say your average ROI is 15% on your poker playing. Suddenly, due to global warming, the poker sites inexplicably experience a fresh wave of greed and decide to increase their rakes to 26% from its current average level of 10%.

If you are still playing poker after this increase, then you my friend are a compulsive gambler.

By the way, one of the primary characteristics of a compulsive gambler is his tendency to actively defend his habit and rationalize it. Which come to think of it is exactly what I am doing right now. Hmmm .........