young kids gambling

[trustyrusty]

Maybe my experience is different than most it, but the pool halls I played in growing up were frequented many by kids. The good 'ol "Q Inn" that I hung out in was mainly the haunt of high school kids and a few from Jr. High. Yes, we gambled, pretty heavily actually, but it was among us, mainly of similar ages.

When we started to drive I would travel some looking for action, but that was mainly me at 16-17 playing a 19-20 year old (at the time you were a minor until 21).

I just can't co-sign a grown adult playing a teenager for money. It really is irrelevant if the kid is just as good a player. Just doesn't feel right to me.

Tournament play is a different story.

I didn't delve into the adults playing minors, but I'm with you. Not only would I not want to take a kids money; but if I lost, I wouldn't want the kid to get in over his head with the next guy cuz of a little cofidence boost he got from me.

I played in a bowling alley as a kid (had 6 barboxes), and most of the kids there bet amoungst themselves. Busted? Just go ask mom and dad for 10 more bucks for the snack bar, Galaga, pool, or whatever (they were happy enough to oblige to keep the kids occupied while they were bowling)

 

[poolplayer2093]

ok well wat about the road players that that beat the kids out of money is that right too

i wouldn't exactly call it right but i wouldn't exactly call it wrong either. basically the way i hear it you can't make any money off anyone that isn't trying to make money off you

 

[ShootingArts]

two types of pool players

Kids (and adults for that matter) don't HAVE to have money on a game to get better. Most of the time all the good MONEY players out there would be just as good of a shot if they weren't playing for money. Sure, money can be motivation for some, but drive (competitive drive) and passion have more to do with it in my opinion. If you are driven to win; you'll be driven to get better. That fire in the belly can be MUCH greater than the need to win for $$$. There are lots of ways to pay bills, but feeding a competitive bug can only be satisfied by WINNING.

There have always been two types of players gambling in a pool hall. There are the competitors and the gamblers. The competitors are playing to win and money is just the way of keeping score. The gamblers are there for the love of the gamble or the lock and they will gamble just as readily on anything else. The horse tracks lost the gamblers to casinos and the pool rooms have largely lost the gamblers to poker. The thrill for them is in the gamble not the winning of the game.

I have been a competitor at something most of my life. I love competition, money involved or not. Unfortunately money became the driving force behind playing pool for a long time and even though I liked the rare time I got in a tough game, I spent most of my time clubbing baby seals.

Many a gambler will rob a kid gladly. Competitors may win from them but they won't deliberately rob them. There is a huge difference between the two things. Should anyone gamble with a minor? Probably not, aside from any ethical issues there are multiple civil and criminal nasties that can rear their ugly heads.

Hu

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

i wouldn't exactly call it right but i wouldn't exactly call it wrong either. basically the way i hear it you can't make any money off anyone that isn't trying to make money off you

I might be missing the point you're making here. If gambling with a minor is OK just because they are willing, where do you draw the line of engaging in illegal activity with a child (i.e. having sex with a minor).

 

[trustyrusty]

There have always been two types of players gambling in a pool hall. There are the competitors and the gamblers. The competitors are playing to win and money is just the way of keeping score. The gamblers are there for the love of the gamble or the lock and they will gamble just as readily on anything else. The horse tracks lost the gamblers to casinos and the pool rooms have largely lost the gamblers to poker. The thrill for them is in the gamble not the winning of the game.

I have been a competitor at something most of my life. I love competition, money involved or not. Unfortunately money became the driving force behind playing pool for a long time and even though I liked the rare time I got in a tough game, I spent most of my time clubbing baby seals.

Many a gambler will rob a kid gladly. Competitors may win from them but they won't deliberately rob them. There is a huge difference between the two things. Should anyone gamble with a minor? Probably not, aside from any ethical issues there are multiple civil and criminal nasties that can rear their ugly heads.

Hu

If it is your source of income - clubbing baby seals is likely a necessity, but sounds like we have something in common....that being, really good competitive matches mean more (not monetarily, but more of a competitive "rush"). Being a competition junky my whole life (mostly sports), that rush is more important to me than anyone's money. I know my weak tries at explaining this on here are lost on most, but I still try...

 

[ShootingArts]

the "baby seals" were trying to club me

If it is your source of income - clubbing baby seals is likely a necessity, but sounds like we have something in common....that being, really good competitive matches mean more (not monetarily, but more of a competitive "rush"). Being a competition junky my whole life (mostly sports), that rush is more important to me than anyone's money. I know my weak tries at explaining this on here are lost on most, but I still try...

The "baby seals" were trying to club me but I did have my baby seal fur coat on most of the time! I do think we are on the same page, I just used your excellent post as a stepping off point to give my ideas on the subject.

I have played for a lot more money but I still remember a match-up with Danny Medina in the mid-eighties as the most fun I ever had on a pool table. We battled for hours and at that time and in that place we were too level for anyone to tell the difference. If we had played a hundred and one games one of us would have came out one game ahead. Seemed like Danny had as much fun as I did too.

Hu

 

[CHRIS_SPORT]

i have seen alot of adult only play young kids just to win money thats wrong. they shouldn't be doing kids that way. I know kids are going to gamble just like every one did, but for grown men to set and wait just to play 15 and 16 year old kids is wrong

 

[dealemout999]

Gotta be a gambler if you wanna be a player one day

What in the hell are yall people talking about, I think it is real good to start gambling at pool at a young age. Im only 16 and i've prolly won about 10,000 total already not including tournaments. It improves your game alot, I mean alottttttt. Thats the only way to get out there if you realy wanna be a player one day, hopefully I will.

Scotty Townsends son,

Michael Townsend

 

[CAR22]

what in the hell are yall people talking about, i think it is real good to start gambling at pool at a young age. Im only 16 and i've prolly won about 10,000 total already not including tournaments. It improves your game alot, i mean alottttttt. Thats the only way to get out there if you realy wanna be a player one day, hopefully i will.

Scotty townsends son,

michael townsend

kid take it from a young player i have won alot but i have lost alot too its not about gamble its about adults stilling from kids that cant play that good

 

[trustyrusty]

What in the hell are yall people talking about, I think it is real good to start gambling at pool at a young age. Im only 16 and i've prolly won about 10,000 total already not including tournaments. It improves your game alot, I mean alottttttt. Thats the only way to get out there if you realy wanna be a player one day, hopefully I will.

Scotty Townsends son,

Michael Townsend

What I am talking about Michael is....playing better competition and working hard on your game is improving your game. You don't need $$$$ as a motivator; or maybe YOU do, but there are tons of folks that are GREAT at what they do, and don't have to gamble to get there.

I know that stakes games, sets, whatever are ingrained (or infused) into pool, but let's take another endeavor that takes MUCH practice, dedication, focus, and WILL to get better....do you think Larry Bird had to wager against everyone he could in Indiana as a kid to motivate himself to get better? Sure, some will point to lucrative contracts dangled by the NBA, but I bet long before that was even in his mind he wanted to whip up on every kid that he faced on a basketball court. That's what I was trying to get across. Not saying you are wrong for doing it, just that those who think it's ABSOLUTELY necessary are most likely mistaken.

Wanting to gamble is OK by me, but if it crosses the line into NEEDING to gamble....not good.

 

[mikeyfrost]

I disagree with winning a $200 set and busting a minor...not cool at all IMO. They deserve a pass until they are of age and have the capacity to determine theyre own stop loss. I'm not taking lunch money from anyone, thats just BS and a weak excuse for an adult IMO. Just sayin....

 

[poolplayer2093]

I might be missing the point you're making here. If gambling with a minor is OK just because they are willing, where do you draw the line of engaging in illegal activity with a child (i.e. having sex with a minor).

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!? there's a huge difference between gambling with a kid and having sex with one.

sex is way more personal and it's something that people become ready for at their own pace.

 

[poolplayer2093]

I disagree with winning a $200 set and busting a minor...not cool at all IMO. They deserve a pass until they are of age and have the capacity to determine theyre own stop loss. I'm not taking lunch money from anyone, thats just BS and a weak excuse for an adult IMO. Just sayin....

No way! losing that 200 isn't going to kill them. since they're minors they'll still have food and a roof over their head (being minors their parents'll see to that). and because they're still young they have plenty of time/energy to make up the cash they lost.

 

[HDR10]

but,,

kid take it from a young player i have won alot but i have lost alot too its not about gamble its about adults stilling from kids that cant play that good

what about the young ones that like to push a coin on an older player that needs some serious weight to win(say $100 at $5 a game) and when the older guy wins(after 6-7 hours of playing) the kid refuse's to pay and stops coming around

 

[poolplayer2093]

what about the young ones that like to push a coin on an older player that needs some serious weight to win(say $100 at $5 a game) and when the older guy wins(after 6-7 hours of playing) the kid refuse's to pay and stops coming around

sounds like the older guy should have had the kid post the cash

 

[HDR10]

agree but,

sounds like the older guy should have had the kid post the cash

the older guy couldnt play a lick and they had played each other numerous times for short cash and grins/giggles and always the kid got payed!!after the kid got the fathead and offered the 7-8/last 4 he lost and hasnt payed yet!!!!!!been over 5 months now I believe the old guy even offered to take a case the kid was selling for $50 to cover the lost$ and yet he still hasnt got payed

 

[poolplayer2093]

the older guy couldnt play a lick and they had played each other numerous times for short cash and grins/giggles and always the kid got payed!!after the kid got the fathead and offered the 7-8/last 4 he lost and hasnt payed yet!!!!!!been over 5 months now I believe the old guy even offered to take a case the kid was selling for $50 to cover the lost$ and yet he still hasnt got payed

if that's what happened then the kid's a no good mother f*cker!

 

[JimS]

I don't gamble and I don't really care one way or the other about competition... but I do want to win when I play someone.

My motivation is simply a desire to play better and I work at it because I really get off on it. Practicing and seeing improvement fills my cup.

I don't like to see kids gambling and I especially don't like seeing them in a bar.

Being propositioned by an adult is just wrong. (yeah... I know I didn't distinguish between being propositioned to gamble or for sex or for something else. It's about the ethics more than the act.)

The only room in town, in order to survive, has become a combination bar/pool hall/nightclub where the owner had to stoop to getting rid of some 9ft tables,increasing the number of 7 ft tables, and had to build a stage for the weekend rock bands. The place is populated mostly by the black T shirt set. I don't go in very often. I can't get into the atmosphere.

If I was 15 in today's society, and had the same mind-set I had when I was 15 back in the 1950's, I'd be in that joint all the time... I'd also be dieing from drug addiction because if the drugs had been around when I was that age I'd have been all over that trip!.... and I'd have never made it back to normal life. I would have died from the drugs or become a criminal and spent my life in the joint.... dammed near did that without the drugs.

Don't get me started! :groucho: Sorry... I digress.................

 

[poolplayer2093]

I don't gamble and I don't really care one way or the other about competition... but I do want to win when I play someone.

My motivation is simply a desire to play better and I work at it because I really get off on it. Practicing and seeing improvement fills my cup.

I don't like to see kids gambling and I especially don't like seeing them in a bar.

Being propositioned by an adult is just wrong. (yeah... I know I didn't distinguish between being propositioned to gamble or for sex or for something else. It's about the ethics more than the act.)

The only room in town, in order to survive, has become a combination bar/pool hall/nightclub where the owner had to stoop to getting rid of some 9ft tables,increasing the number of 7 ft tables, and had to build a stage for the weekend rock bands. The place is populated mostly by the black T shirt set. I don't go in very often. I can't get into the atmosphere.

If I was 15 in today's society, and had the same mind-set I had when I was 15 back in the 1950's, I'd be in that joint all the time... I'd also be dieing from drug addiction because if the drugs had been around when I was that age I'd have been all over that trip!.... and I'd have never made it back to normal life. I would have died from the drugs or become a criminal and spent my life in the joint.... dammed near did that without the drugs.

Don't get me started! :groucho: Sorry... I digress.................

i forgot who it was that said it but i heard someone say "the problem is that the drugs are too good these days"

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!? there's a huge difference between gambling with a kid and having sex with one.

sex is way more personal and it's something that people become ready for at their own pace.

Well of course there are differences. You can find differences to any two things. The point I was making is that there is an awful lot pertinent to this discussion that are similar between the two: both are illegal and generally indefensible on moral grounds.