What's your take on people that won't gamble?

I look at people who don't gamble the same as I look at people who:
-don't drink
-don't smoke
-don't do drugs

To me these are just people who by thier own choice do not do something that may endanger thier lives or well being.

They're people, and thier choices don't make them any more or less respectable in my eyes.

I find it funny when gambling junkies put down people who don't gamble.

It's like a heroin addict saying to someone who doesn't do drugs: "you don't know how to have fun?"

My answer would be: " You don't know how to have fun without gambling"

I gamble, but rarely. That's my choice and if people don't respect that then I don't really have time for them.
 
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I could never play poker for free, because I just didn't see the point? I would always just go all in for fun with nothing or a draw. But pool is different I could play for free all day and be happy.
 
I have to have something on the line to get my game in top gear.

The whole point of putting in years of practice was to get to the point where I could play for money and generally do well....I've already put in 20 plus years of practice...So playing for practice is a waste in my eyes.

Unless you are trying to get back in stroke or prepping for a Tournament.

But winnig a nice score or tournament can really jolt your confidence and that can do more for you gme than practice alone.

Plus the best practice you can get is playing better players for short money thats where you can really learn new ideas and get better quickly.

Practicing or playing for fun with guys at your own level or worse won't get you very far. That is if you wan't to get better

All depends on your priorities
 
hang-the-9 said:
I play my best so I don't cheapen the game and all of the time I spent practacing and playing matches and for my own satisfaction. I would never say to someone you need to play for something or I'm not playing or complain that I shot bad because it did not mean anything.

Every game "means something" to me. It's not the end of the world if I lose, but I play because I want to do well, for my own satisfaction. Yes, it "means something."

Do your best for yourself not for the fact that you gain something from it.
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Tap, tap, tap. :thumbup:
 
30+ years ago, I used to play some expensive golf; $50 nassau with automatic 1 down presses. That means that every time a hole is won or lost, another bet begins. Had some afternoons where I cleared $600 - $700. Had some where I lost the same. I say this to point out that I have gambled over the years.

I still like a small wager on the pool table; I've gotten to the age where I can afford it for the most part although I don't like losing.

When someone wants to play for some money, the game needs to be arranged so that either of us can win and believe we can win. The amount we play for needs to be enough to make both of us bear down. If the game you ask me for means I have no shot at winning, then why don't you just ask me for a gift or donation instead? And if I tell you, "no thanks" then just walk away and don't be a dick about it. Because of the current phenomenon, that several of you mentioned, I don't get a chance to play for something very often these days.

There's a really solid money player around here who happens to be a friend of mine for the last 10 years or so. I asked him what kind of spot he'd give me in 1 hole. He looked surprised when I asked but he offered up the right spot, in my opinion, to make a good game. He also told me he doesn't choose to gamble with friends. His responses earned far more respect from me than the OP ever could. Just sayin'.

Brian in VA
 
Aren't most pros putting essentially their own money to enter tournaments? And since the fees in bigger tournaments are quite large, that is basically gambling in my books. It surely is different than one-on-one gambling, but it's still wagering your own money to win a bigger sum of money. In sports where most of the prize funds come from outside sources (TV deals, sponsors etc) playing just tournaments isn't gambling, but I feel like it's somewhat different in pool.
 
I used to gamble regularly. At pool. At the track. At the casino boat. Then, I went to work at the track. Let me just say that it was kind of like those smoke outs for smokers who light up entire packs at one time. I just lost any pleasure that I had for it. I used to light up at the thought of the excitement caused by laying down a bet. Now, it doesn't even spark the slightest interest in me. Of course, it didn't help that I worked amongst folks who had become so desperate that they were a hazard to themselves and to society. Hell, one nicer older regular won about $500 bucks one night and someone followed him home and stabbed him in the back just to take it. Over $500 bucks. Wow.

Also, since I worked in parimutuels, and had access to a large data set of information involving hundreds of thousands of individual transactions, I found that the average wager lost around 19.18% each time. That is a phenomenal negative return on investment. Bear in mind that this compounded at a rate exponentially faster than an APY. At that rate, people can and do get busted rather quickly. I learned that the old adage that the only folks who got rich during the gold boom were the ones who sold the picks and the shovels. But in the end, to each their own...
 
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Neil said:
The ones that really turn my screws are the ones that want you to play them for nothing so they can get a few free pointers. They refuse to play for time, and when you tell them no, they go right over to the stupid slot machines and drop $50 in it!

Also, those that say they can't afford to play for time. If you can't afford to play for time, why are you even there, and why did you just pay $30 or more for the booze you just drank?
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This post got me thinking.

I've actually picked up some peoples tab so I could show them more. Granted it's not often but I love the game so much I'll pay to teach other people. I guess it's a good thing I'm not an instructor. I doubt I could make a viable business out of it. Call me sick but I like seeing peoples faces light up when they get it.

I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority on this. :D
 
I dont gamble, but I know if I did my game would be on a different level. I truly believe my current skill level is where it is today cause I didnt gamble. Years of social/league play stunted my game. :embarrassed2:
 
Why I think people who don't gamble are just fine and dandy. For some people it is about the game not the money.
Steve.<== Doesn't gamble.
 
Oh yeah, one more thought. A true gamble involves an unpredictable outcome. Why would I ever want to wager on an unpredictable outcome? Now, If one were to truly believe that they "have the best of it", then it is not what I would consider a gamble. Rather, it is a calculated risk. Those are quite acceptable. For me though, my ability to calculate risk in cue sports is about zero. Other folks have better ability I'm sure. However, I have spent enough time around gamblers to know that they usually only mention their winning wagers, not their losing ones. I have personally witnessed the bragging of some of our patrons while having access to the actual performance of their betting accounts. Let's just say that they were fond of embelishment...
 
I'm ok with people who won't gamble.
Hell I is one. :-)
I have kind of the reverse problem.
I often have to gamble to get better players to play.

Cheers.

Heyman.
 
jay helfert said:
I grew up gambling on pool, and I prefer a little side bet on a game. But do I have a problem with people who don't gamble at pool. ABSOLUTELY NOT! I have a lot of admiration for Ralf Souquet. He is a gentleman sportsman and a great competitor. He prefers not to spend his time in money games. He would rather win the twenty or forty thousand being offered to the winner of the tournament he is playing in. And he manages to do this with regularity!

Bottom line - some guys (and gals) like to gamble at pool and some don't. My feeling is this, if you want to play for money, ask the people who also like to gamble. Don't bother the ones who don't!
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Rather than give you a meaningless rep that nobody will see when you've probably already have a roomful of them, I'll just say "Hear, hear".

I only gamble when it is the only way to keep score and an intrinsic part of the game, like in poker. If you can keep score some other way I see no point in putting my money at risk or taking somebody's money. I am most appreciative of your recognizing that I can not gamble and still be welcomed.
 
If it is truly important for you to gamble when you play... you have to have something on the line to make you play better... you can't just play for funsies.... then why don't you just put $50 in one pocket and if you win, you keep it there... if you lose, you must give it to the house man, your opponent or the waitress.


You say, 'where is the gain?' you put up money, you should get more in return if you win? good question. but now it isn't about the game, it is about the money. right?
 
Heyman said:
I'm ok with people who won't gamble.
Hell I is one. :-)
I have kind of the reverse problem.
I often have to gamble to get better players to play.

Cheers.

Heyman.
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I guess that can be construed of as paying for instructions.
 
> I accept the fact that not everyone gambles at the game.

I despise the people that talk shit ABOUT gambling then won't step up and play.

Just because a person doesn't bet it up,doesn't even make them a nit in my book,there may be financial or moral concerns for them,no problems there.

However,95% of the time those are the ones that aren't woofing.

Also,you cannot make the mistake of thinking that because someone doesn't bet,that the person can't PLAY. There is a player from up around Bowling Green,Ky named Eddie Adams that is probably in the top 20 players in America with a full-time job,and I've never even seen him buy his own calcutta. Last time I saw him,he was playing around the same speed Hennessee does now,but all he does is WIN tournaments. Tommy D.
 
I think you're missing something here. The vast majority of pool games are played for nothing. Kids hanging out, groups of friends coming from work, parents and their children, college kids, giggling teenage girls and the guys trying to get in their pants, bored guys who play with the same buddy every week, people who love the game and practice alone...

Only a small fraction of all the pool players in the USA are gambling. Serious players want to forget that the bangers exist, but those bangers outnumber us 10-to-1 or worse.

You know what would happen if everyone who doesn't like to gamble got the f*ck out of the pool? The pool hall would be gone in a month.
 
jay helfert said:
I grew up gambling on pool, and I prefer a little side bet on a game. But do I have a problem with people who don't gamble at pool. ABSOLUTELY NOT! I have a lot of admiration for Ralf Souquet. He is a gentleman sportsman and a great competitor. He prefers not to spend his time in money games. He would rather win the twenty or forty thousand being offered to the winner of the tournament he is playing in. And he manages to do this with regularity!

Bottom line - some guys (and gals) like to gamble at pool and some don't. My feeling is this, if you want to play for money, ask the people who also like to gamble. Don't bother the ones who don't!
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Great example, and I'm sure you can name some people who play at or near Ralf's speed who are broke precisely because they can't control their gambling.

I don't care whether people gamble or not, that is entirely their decision. There are a lot of people who simply enjoy the sport but aren't interested in gambling.
 
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