a poker life

Why do people get so addicted to poker?

I know so many people who are ruining their lives playing poker all the time. I knew a guy in my English class who wrote all of his papers about it, another that would only come into work to get money to play when he busted out, and have a friend who quit his job to play it full-time.

What's the deal? It's kind of pathetic.

I personally am pretty obsessed with poker, though I've never been a gambler. Played slots once, found it boring. Played blackjack, found it monotonous. Never played the lottery, I would prefer to invest my money (THAT gets dopamine running in my brain). So what is the difference?

I'm a curious person, and my brain goes nutty over strategy and honing a skill. Slots, lottery, sports betting, blackjack... none of them provided it for me. But poker did. There's the mathematical aspect of calculating pot odds, and the logical likelihood of the outcome of certain cards, or what your opponent may have. There's the Hollywood acting of bluffing and maintaining a poker face. There's the psychological aspect of reading tells and finding patterns and developing or deciphering a person's image. And then, yes, there is the dopamine-inducing thrill of not knowing exactly what's going to happen, but knowing if you are successful, you could get a huge reward. As you can see, it's more multi-dimensional than just gambling, which is why a lot of poker players are perturbed at that label. It IS possible to develop better acting skills. It IS possible to understand odds and probabilities more fully. It IS possible to learn how to read people and to understand psychology. Therefore, poker IS a skill. And like any skill, you can spend your entire life trying to master it and there will STILL be more to learn. The same cannot be said for any other form of gambling. So that's the deal. Call it pathetic if you will, I beg to differ, though.

On a side note, I can see why, with the examples you have encountered, you might think it pathetic. Poker in itself is not pathetic. But, to a degree, I think that if you can not manage your finances, or even your life in general, and you are playing this game... Poker is a fun game, and I believe should be treated as such. It's a lifestyle for very few people, and it's not an easy one. When people are using up all their spare money and constantly losing it, when people start using rent/grocery money to fund this GAME, when people start neglecting other aspects of their lifes... That's a pretty sad state.

Dozen Poker Releases its Flop Products- June 2009 update

Dozen Media proudly presents “Dozen Poker”, a revolutionary online poker guide and ranking system.
The ranking method of Dozen Media for rating products makes it unique amongst other review websites.

Dozen Poker  is the world’s very first online poker site with Top reviews as well as Flop reviews of poker rooms, networks, players, movies, and events. Punctilious editorial reviews, combined with an algorithmic output of cold statistical data, ensure that you will get the real picture of the Top and Flop of online poker every month.

Dozen poker releases its Flop products for June 2009

Flop Poker Room
World 3D Poker

The 3-D interface does not come close to compensate for the low traffic, almost inexistent customer service and a staggering lack of bonuses and promotions.
If that wasn't enough, World 3D Poker's website is currently down until further notice.

Thank you, World 3D Poker, for confirming our Flop review.

Flop Poker Player
Marco Liesy

We don't like to stifle anyone's flame for trying, but if you want to be a serious tournament poker player you have to show consistent success. German Marco "Kill Bill" Lisey has the least achievements compared to anyone in his league. Considering the fact that he is a serious poker player since the age of 17, he has earned our Flop Player of the Month achievement with flying colors…

Flop Poker Event

Chicago Live Poker

While some events are booming, other events do not show any considerable action.

Chicago Live Poker is the Flop item of this month. Although we give SOME credit to this event as a portion of the earnings is given to charity.

Flop Poker Movie

Deal

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A weak plot, slow pace and insufficient drama places "Deal" on the summit of the Flop movie reviews. I never want to play a poker game that has the ambiance of this movie.

Flop Poker Bonus

Poker4ever

How can one of the least popular poker rooms expect to succeed by offering one of the lowest sign-up bonuses? Only if it aspires to succeed by getting our Flop Bonus of the Month title.

If that wasn't enough, other bonuses have to be achieved, making the procedure too difficult and time-consuming.

Flop Poker Rakeback

Pacific Poker

Surprisingly, with a 25% Rakeback, the veteran Pacific Poker gets this month's Flop rating as much more lucrative Rakeback deals can be achieved at the smaller operators. Old is not always gold, sometimes old is just… old.

Flop Poker Network

Everleaf Gaming Network

Low player count, unpopular rooms and no U.S players make the Everleaf Gaming Network our Flop network of the month. Even considering 8skins it has only two poker rooms and no considerable growth player count.

Flop Poker Community

Student Poker Community

While providing reasonable news updates, this is supposed to be a poker network, and as such it must have some traffic. The "community" in the title of this so-called network is more wishful thinking than anything else, and it does not even have a chat feature.

Flop Poker Blog

Astafas's Poker Life

Where do I begin? With the poor design or the poor editing skills of this aspiring blogger?
What granted  this blog our Flop title was the amount of patience and knowledge not only of the industry, but of Asafas himself, along with his incoherent ramblings, mixing his personal life with what seems to be an attempt to give real life advice for bankroll management. Nuff said.

About the Author

Hey friends, I am Carla a fun loving gal who loves online surfing and online games. My favorite game is Poker. I love playing online poker.
About my site: Dozen Poker is the world’s very first online poker site with Top reviews as well as Flop reviews of poker rooms, networks, players, movies, and events. Punctilious editorial reviews, combined with an algorithmic output of cold statistical data, ensure that you will get the real picture of the Top and Flop of online poker every month.