A Thread for the Non-Pool Gambles
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
- Start date
That I don't know about. I don't bet on things I have no control over.androd said:
Perhaps I need to re-eval my earlier stance: maybe I am not a gambler: I don't like to bet money on pool, I like to win money at pool.
JMP
Registered
I don't gamble because I don't have the funds to. Now if I am playing at the bar and a friend wants to play a game for a drink I might do that, but I don't consider it gambling. I have no problem with the people that do gamble. I can see the advantages.
I am a firm believer in if you can't afford it don't do it. Whether it is gambling, vacations, cues, cars, etc.
I am a firm believer in if you can't afford it don't do it. Whether it is gambling, vacations, cues, cars, etc.
I play for the respect of my peers.
I went from an APA SL2 who could not make a ball or win a game, up to a three, four, and now a pretty good SL5 able to compete with SL6s. Pool does not come easy, and I have to work very hard to improve. More than most players.
Nothing is better when a teammate, opposing team member, or best of all opponent compliments my game.
I went from an APA SL2 who could not make a ball or win a game, up to a three, four, and now a pretty good SL5 able to compete with SL6s. Pool does not come easy, and I have to work very hard to improve. More than most players.
Nothing is better when a teammate, opposing team member, or best of all opponent compliments my game.
Gregg said:
IMO, the best compliment is the forking over of the cashish.
Now, if you wished to play for $ and were aware of your progress, you could have been getting paid as you improved...
No gambling is not in my life for many reasons. In pool most of the time the guy that walks up and asks to play cheap sets is usually just after your money and nothing else. Many times these are folks have no job let alone a career and they spend all day at the pool hall just waiting for you to come in let them hustle you. I have seen the hustlers at just about every pool hall I have ever been to, they usually want the nuts or as close as they can get so it's not really gambling at all. I watched Rudolfo Luat one night trying to make some money at Chris's eventually he played one of the hispanic guys some carom for $100. He gets beat and then spends the next two hours trying to get the same guy to play him some 9 ball. Of course the other guy says no lets play some more carom, naturally Rudolfo does not want any part of that. He really only wanted to play his game..
I have no need or desire to play pool for money, I can think of no better way to ruin a nice relaxing evening of pool than to start gambling. If I wish to challenge my ability I'll do it in a tournament setting..
JMO
Dan
I have no need or desire to play pool for money, I can think of no better way to ruin a nice relaxing evening of pool than to start gambling. If I wish to challenge my ability I'll do it in a tournament setting..
JMO
Dan
Gambling, for me, always fell into one of two categories:
1. I KNOW I'm going to win. For example, hustling a lower-skilled player.
I used to do this in college. It wasn't really gambling, it was Stealing.
2. I DON'T KNOW if I'm going to win. For example, playing some unknown pool shooter, or playing poker, or betting on the horses. If you don't know your going to win, then you've got a pretty good chance of losing your hard earned money. And that's Stupid.
When I thought about what I was doing, I realized it all boiled down to Stealing or Stupid.
That's why I quit gambling.
1. I KNOW I'm going to win. For example, hustling a lower-skilled player.
I used to do this in college. It wasn't really gambling, it was Stealing.
2. I DON'T KNOW if I'm going to win. For example, playing some unknown pool shooter, or playing poker, or betting on the horses. If you don't know your going to win, then you've got a pretty good chance of losing your hard earned money. And that's Stupid.
When I thought about what I was doing, I realized it all boiled down to Stealing or Stupid.
That's why I quit gambling.
Black-Balled said:
Hey, don't get me wrong; I like to win money playing pool!
Played in an impromptu mini eight ball tournament with locals and my team when the other team didn't show on league night.
Lets just say I won forty dollars, beating players who were supposed to be better than me, and loved every minute of it. And yes, I played for the cash!
That said, you don't have to be good pool to win money at pool games. In fact, the better player does not always get the cash; but the better gambler usually does!
lowcel said:
mullyman said:
betting on pool
I never bet with friends because it wasn't gambling and was simply stealing. Gambling with strangers wasn't really gambling either because I knew I could beat over 90% of them and I knew how to manage money. I never went off big and if I went off a little I would just take it back from someone else I bet with. These days I don't gamble both from a lack of large amounts of discretionary income and a lack of confidence in a much weaker game than I once had. Plucking the chickens that lurked in strange halls waiting to "sucker" strangers into a game was how I made my living a few times in life. It was just a job and wasn't particularly fun.
I was always able to "work" at pool and still relax and kick things out of high gear and bang balls around the table with dates and friends. I like recreational playing on a pool table, I like competition, I don't like taking people's money in a one on one situation when they don't have a prayer. Been there done that far too many times, hopefully never again.
Hu
I never bet with friends because it wasn't gambling and was simply stealing. Gambling with strangers wasn't really gambling either because I knew I could beat over 90% of them and I knew how to manage money. I never went off big and if I went off a little I would just take it back from someone else I bet with. These days I don't gamble both from a lack of large amounts of discretionary income and a lack of confidence in a much weaker game than I once had. Plucking the chickens that lurked in strange halls waiting to "sucker" strangers into a game was how I made my living a few times in life. It was just a job and wasn't particularly fun.
I was always able to "work" at pool and still relax and kick things out of high gear and bang balls around the table with dates and friends. I like recreational playing on a pool table, I like competition, I don't like taking people's money in a one on one situation when they don't have a prayer. Been there done that far too many times, hopefully never again.
Hu
Gambling Thoughts.
I love the game and have played for fun most of my life. I am more of a tournament player than a gambler. I have had a few matches in my day. I always get asked why i dont gamble. Heres the reason.
I watched friends become enemies over who owed who. One would play the other and then he didnt pay. Then the other guy plays and win and doesnt pay and so the circle goes. It was a whirlwind of owsies and friends that hated each other due to not posting and playing on their bad debts.
One of my other expiriences was wild and scarry. I was at a friends bar and a black ( kill me for not being politicaly correct) gentleman was playing and i asked to play a game. I knew the only black guy that played in the area and this wasnt him. We shot one for fun and he asks to shoot for 20 bucks. I was 22 and played cheap ring games and sets for no more than 10 bucks a set. We start shooting and the guy couldnt win one game to save his life. I was up a hundred and he shook my hand after every game and said nice game sir. I was 22 and no way a sir. He was the perfect gentleman. Well my pool buddies show up and so do his friends. The table was surrounded half black and half white. I let him do anything he wanted, any stupid rule he made was fine. He couldnt win even making up rules. Well the raill was betting hundreds a game. Thousands were being lost by the darker side of the room. No problems. One of the his friend speaks up and pulls out a roll of bills that made me drool. He was like i can whoop this white boy. One of the big huge black guy chokes him and empties both of his pocket and says never but in on JUNEBUGS action. The guy punched him in the jaw. I was getting nervous as the night was coming to an end we were all up huge. He tried a 3 rail bank and wants to bet 100, i bet 100 to appease his gamble, he misses. i was up a grand easy. The railbirds were up like 6 to 7 grand. It was last call we played 2 for a hundred. I won them both and he shook my hand and said i was the nicest guy he ever played. He said everyone else trash talked and were greedy. We all walked out the back door to avoid any railbird conflicts. It could have gone very bad quick.
I ran into june bug at the mall the next day and we hooked up for 2 more sessions without all the railbird excitement.
It could have gone very bad quick.
It happened again one time in florida. I went with friends to a pool hall in a different town. I lost the tourney in 2 rounds. A guy my friend knows asks me to gamble. I say nah and he talks me into 5 a game and it turned to 10 a game. He was down a hundred and busted. I said well ill come back and we can play again. He starts shit talkin and wants me to let him play on owsies. I didnt agree. The guy was getting loud and told me he would get his hundred back in the parking lot. I am no way a fighter. I would have gave him the hundred back and walked out. He didnt want it that way and i wasnt spending 2 hours letting him win it back. The owner got wind of what was going on and threw the joker out. I stayed and played the owner til 2 and no trouble happened.
It always seemed when i had the chance to gamble nothing but trouble was about to break out.
Therefore i dont gamble.
Cheers
Pat
I love the game and have played for fun most of my life. I am more of a tournament player than a gambler. I have had a few matches in my day. I always get asked why i dont gamble. Heres the reason.
I watched friends become enemies over who owed who. One would play the other and then he didnt pay. Then the other guy plays and win and doesnt pay and so the circle goes. It was a whirlwind of owsies and friends that hated each other due to not posting and playing on their bad debts.
One of my other expiriences was wild and scarry. I was at a friends bar and a black ( kill me for not being politicaly correct) gentleman was playing and i asked to play a game. I knew the only black guy that played in the area and this wasnt him. We shot one for fun and he asks to shoot for 20 bucks. I was 22 and played cheap ring games and sets for no more than 10 bucks a set. We start shooting and the guy couldnt win one game to save his life. I was up a hundred and he shook my hand after every game and said nice game sir. I was 22 and no way a sir. He was the perfect gentleman. Well my pool buddies show up and so do his friends. The table was surrounded half black and half white. I let him do anything he wanted, any stupid rule he made was fine. He couldnt win even making up rules. Well the raill was betting hundreds a game. Thousands were being lost by the darker side of the room. No problems. One of the his friend speaks up and pulls out a roll of bills that made me drool. He was like i can whoop this white boy. One of the big huge black guy chokes him and empties both of his pocket and says never but in on JUNEBUGS action. The guy punched him in the jaw. I was getting nervous as the night was coming to an end we were all up huge. He tried a 3 rail bank and wants to bet 100, i bet 100 to appease his gamble, he misses. i was up a grand easy. The railbirds were up like 6 to 7 grand. It was last call we played 2 for a hundred. I won them both and he shook my hand and said i was the nicest guy he ever played. He said everyone else trash talked and were greedy. We all walked out the back door to avoid any railbird conflicts. It could have gone very bad quick.
I ran into june bug at the mall the next day and we hooked up for 2 more sessions without all the railbird excitement.
It could have gone very bad quick.
It happened again one time in florida. I went with friends to a pool hall in a different town. I lost the tourney in 2 rounds. A guy my friend knows asks me to gamble. I say nah and he talks me into 5 a game and it turned to 10 a game. He was down a hundred and busted. I said well ill come back and we can play again. He starts shit talkin and wants me to let him play on owsies. I didnt agree. The guy was getting loud and told me he would get his hundred back in the parking lot. I am no way a fighter. I would have gave him the hundred back and walked out. He didnt want it that way and i wasnt spending 2 hours letting him win it back. The owner got wind of what was going on and threw the joker out. I stayed and played the owner til 2 and no trouble happened.
It always seemed when i had the chance to gamble nothing but trouble was about to break out.
Therefore i dont gamble.
Cheers
Pat
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I don't mean any disrespect... but I do not get the whole "I love the game thus I do not gamble" story.
I love the game... and I cannot imagine not placing the occasional wager on game. IMO, gambling has made me a better player. I have been all over the country and gambled in every city I ever played in and never had any problems. I am talking about games ranging from sets where I gave up the 7 out to sets where I got the orange crush... (Hey Keith, how ya doin)
This is not the only game in which people fall in love and gamble with at the same time... take golf for example. I know people who are fanatical about golf and they cannot play a single round without betting something... closest to the pin, longest drive, putting out with an iron... etc...
-Back2good1
I love the game... and I cannot imagine not placing the occasional wager on game. IMO, gambling has made me a better player. I have been all over the country and gambled in every city I ever played in and never had any problems. I am talking about games ranging from sets where I gave up the 7 out to sets where I got the orange crush... (Hey Keith, how ya doin)
This is not the only game in which people fall in love and gamble with at the same time... take golf for example. I know people who are fanatical about golf and they cannot play a single round without betting something... closest to the pin, longest drive, putting out with an iron... etc...
-Back2good1
i stopped gambling on pool because;
1-no one wanted a fair game(too many locksmiths)
2-way too many playing on air
so my choices were give it away or dont get paid....
i am not a great player by no means but i aint gonna give
my money away either.
so i just played tournements and for fun.
scott
1-no one wanted a fair game(too many locksmiths)
2-way too many playing on air
so my choices were give it away or dont get paid....
i am not a great player by no means but i aint gonna give
my money away either.
so i just played tournements and for fun.
scott
Gambler's Anonymus
For people with addictive personalities like myself, gambling can quickly become the tail that wags the dog. I know many good players and gamblers from my youth that became gamblers and quit pool altogether because they could get action easier in cards, golf, a corner craps game or a bookie. And if there wasn't action they weren't interested enough to play. They'd rather play video poker instead. Personally, I'm glad I quit, but I don't hold gambling against anyone who can handle it. It's just not for me, along with 4 or 5 other activities that have their own 12 step programs.....
For people with addictive personalities like myself, gambling can quickly become the tail that wags the dog. I know many good players and gamblers from my youth that became gamblers and quit pool altogether because they could get action easier in cards, golf, a corner craps game or a bookie. And if there wasn't action they weren't interested enough to play. They'd rather play video poker instead. Personally, I'm glad I quit, but I don't hold gambling against anyone who can handle it. It's just not for me, along with 4 or 5 other activities that have their own 12 step programs.....
good thread
I gave up the pool gambling over a year ago
a) does nothing for my game
b) very bad game maker,I always want to player better players even.
c)I once saw betting on pool as a game between gentlemen(this view did not stand the test of time).
d)Although fun at times,there can be a certain comradery amongst players,this is just not the way to make friends LOL.
I don"t know if gambling is good or bad for pool and pools image but I see it as bad for my image ultimately.Not trying to be a "tough guy" or the coolest guy ever and I like tourney money better then match-up money.
I do see pool gambling as a much better use of time then casino gambling but neither is for me..
I gave up the pool gambling over a year ago
a) does nothing for my game
b) very bad game maker,I always want to player better players even.
c)I once saw betting on pool as a game between gentlemen(this view did not stand the test of time).
d)Although fun at times,there can be a certain comradery amongst players,this is just not the way to make friends LOL.
I don"t know if gambling is good or bad for pool and pools image but I see it as bad for my image ultimately.Not trying to be a "tough guy" or the coolest guy ever and I like tourney money better then match-up money.
I do see pool gambling as a much better use of time then casino gambling but neither is for me..
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For you guys that are all for gambling.........why are you posting here? The original post is asking why the people that don't gamble choose not to gamble. You have nothing to add to this thread. Turn it around, the thread is "Why do you choose to gamble" and then a bunch of us non-gamblers start posting about how we don't gamble and gambling is wrong etc.... You'd pitch a fit. If someone is asking for advice on buying a car I don't show them photos of my motorcycle.
MULLY
MULLY