Gambling Question
Hi Everyone,
I’m new to this site. I play low stakes online hold’em and some home games with friends. I am also a psychology researcher and I plan to start a study about online texas hold’em sometime in the New Year. Although my study will examine the predictive aspects of problem gambling, I would also like to acknowledge the positive aspects of the game. I believe there is a huge skill component involved in poker, especially compared to other forms of gambling. I know that there are players out there who are consistently winning, and make a sizable living playing poker.
My questions to everyone are: What does it take to build one’s skills as a poker player? What types of behaviours help prevent a gambling problem when it comes to poker? Just to be clear, these questions are for general interest sake and will not be part of the actual study.
Thanks,
Kevin
I’m new to this site. I play low stakes online hold’em and some home games with friends. I am also a psychology researcher and I plan to start a study about online texas hold’em sometime in the New Year. Although my study will examine the predictive aspects of problem gambling, I would also like to acknowledge the positive aspects of the game. I believe there is a huge skill component involved in poker, especially compared to other forms of gambling. I know that there are players out there who are consistently winning, and make a sizable living playing poker.
My questions to everyone are: What does it take to build one’s skills as a poker player? What types of behaviours help prevent a gambling problem when it comes to poker? Just to be clear, these questions are for general interest sake and will not be part of the actual study.
Thanks,
Kevin
Comments
As for the helping prevent it from becoming a gambling problem, I actually find that easy because I have an addictive personality. I realize that doesn't make a lot of sense but because I am very aware of how addictive my personality is, I keep a very close eye on myself and how I act. I also have a very good support network of family and friends who keep watch over me so that if I do slide into that problem area, they can step in to stop me. So far so good
there are obviously some acceptions to the rules in the internet miracles who have only been playing for a few years and are amazing at the game. I assume since i'm not a prodegy that these people just REALLY get it and fast and for the majority it takes time
Just like in sports obviously there also some luck, random specific event coincidence and gambling involved or every game of poker or they would be won by the same people every time.
as far as the addicition goes I can see how people can be sucked into the gambling addiction as there can be extreme highs and lows in the game no matter how good you are due to the above reasonings
To prevent this myself if I know i'm going on tilt in a cash game due to a big counterfeit or suckout by some donk I have to stop myself and catch my own breath before it goes completely out the window. As far as an overall gambling addiction problem it's helpful to track your progress as well as set a limit to what you're going to gamble.
Why assume predictive aspects of problem gambling?
I wrote my post in Word initially, and pasted it here. I also pasted it on other forums to get as many opinions as possible.
I understand your suspicion, maybe that helps your poker skills.
-Kevin