AZers thoughts on teens gambling...

[barrett9ball]

I know both of whom you are talking about. Walt keeps a real eye out for the better shooter and the other shooter only recently started gambling to improve his game (he thinks). I think it is a really wrong move for either of them right now. Both have a lot of promise if they can keep things in check for a while.

As for young teens gambling (or anyone compulsively doing so) in the words of Sgt Alvin York, "I'm agin it!!"

I agree. I think both have a great deal of promise. I think they are both real good kids also. Granted, for many players matching up gives the experience of player under pressure. Personally, I'd rather see kids playing tournaments and working on trying to gain a mastery of fundamentals (if thats ever possible). Kids mature at different rates. I can't really put an age on when I think it's alright to gamble. Depends on the person or level of maturity. Some might be ready before others.

 

[breakup]

It’s far more educational than video games

 

[Colin Colenso]

One man's gambling is another man's business. It's only really gambling when one is relying on luck more than judgement to make a profit.

If I had a kid who wanted to be a pro I would encourage them to play in tourmaments and take bet challenges when the odds were ok and the opponent was of reasonably good character.

Most great men started early in life as entrepreneurs, taking calculated risks. The idea of locking teens away from these evils in state indoctrination centers to keep them safe is not helping them IMHO.

btw: Sure, tell their parents if you think they'd want to know. Teens still should be responsible to their parent's advice. Unfortunately though, many parents parent poorly.

 

[drivermaker]

Welcome back DM. This kid was giving the 8 and the breaks the one time I actually watched. He didn't win alot or get busted either.

Thanks for the welcome back.

Now it's time for you to teach the kid another lesson should he ever try his hand at gambling again. Teach him to get rid of his ego and youthful bravado and ALWAYS ask for the 8 (actually the 7 and out) along with the breaks even if he's playing against a nun!!! This young dude don't know nuttin' about nuttin'!!!

 

[barrett9ball]

Thanks for the welcome back.

Now it's time for you to teach the kid another lesson should he ever try his hand at gambling again. Teach him to get rid of his ego and youthful bravado and ALWAYS ask for the 8 (actually the 7 and out) along with the breaks even if he's playing against a nun!!! This young dude don't know nuttin' about nuttin'!!!

Exactly. He isn't ready. As I mentioned before he plays good for his age. But the weight he was giving was exactly what you said. Ego and youthful bravado. He wants to be one of "the players" so he does what the players do without regard to outcome.

 

[chefjeff]

One man's gambling is another man's business. It's only really gambling when one is relying on luck more than judgement to make a profit.

If I had a kid who wanted to be a pro I would encourage them to play in tourmaments and take bet challenges when the odds were ok and the opponent was of reasonably good character.

Most great men started early in life as entrepreneurs, taking calculated risks. The idea of locking teens away from these evils in state indoctrination centers to keep them safe is not helping them IMHO.

btw: Sure, tell their parents if you think they'd want to know. Teens still should be responsible to their parent's advice. Unfortunately though, many parents parent poorly.

Good post, Colin...as usual.

I've told this before, but it applies here, for sure...

In about 1993 or so, I was playing this young kid 9-ball for a buck or two a game. I had him down about 10 or 12 bucks and I started feeling guilty about "taking advantage" of a young, inexperienced player. I thought, was I doing the right thing here? He asked me to play, not me asking him...but still, he's yound 'n dumb and I wasn't. I could tell he wanted the experience so I figured I was making his game better, but still, the (false?) guilt was there.

Well about that time, a woman about my age comes in and walks right up to the kid. Oh shit, I thought, it's his Mother...I'm in big trouble. Well, they talk, she (I think) hands him some more money and out she goes, without really giving me a glance.

Soon after that I chose to quit on him, even though I was up. A few years later, I pretty sure he won it back with interest...I forget the details.

Did I contribute to this guy's gambling career? Is it my fault that he's now known as one of the biggest pool gamblers? Could I have stopped him from his ways by just saying "no?" Hell no, my little experience was just another day for him, not the cause of his lifestyle choice, imho. I wouldn't do it again at this age, but that's a new choice for me.

His name is Scott Frost, btw.

Jeff Livingston

 

[vagabond]

Good post, Colin...as usual.

I've told this before, but it applies here, for sure...

In about 1993 or so, I was playing this young kid 9-ball for a buck or two a game. I had him down about 10 or 12 bucks

His name is Scott Frost, btw.

Jeff Livingston

WOW,u beat Scott Frost !!! Cheers to that

 

[chefjeff]

WOW,u beat Scott Frost !!! Cheers to that

Well, that's when I was playing a lot of 9-ball on the big tables and he was just starting to play well, so it isn't anything to really brag about, just an interesting story. I'd like to beat him now, but that's unlikely, I'd say.

Let me state here and now for the recortd that I do NOT think it is wise to engage teenagers in gambling, drugs, or any other "adult" activity.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Black-Balled]

You absolutely, positively did the right thing here.

I agree. It is a win-win coz if the gambling is OK with the parents, then it's their choice for it to be so. If it isn't ok, then they obviously do not know and now they do. I would think you should try to uphold the family's wishes, given the opportunity.
I do not thing anyone should gamble unless they have earned first. It really screws with one's perception of $.

 

[Snapshot9]

Imo ...

When I started playing Pool when I was 14, my older brother
played too (6 years older), and he told me that If I wanted
to be good that you have to play for money, but he added
not more than you can afford to lose. I played for a dollar
or two a game, sometimes $5 a game. I played with the money
I had on me at the time (from allowance or work money).
My parents did not ever have to 'bail me out' from losing.
I was probably really about 16 when I started playing for
dollars. I started working part time jobs when I was 14.

I would say 16 is the age to start letting them be more
responsible for the decisions they make, and how it will
affect them in the rest of their life, but I would add a
word of caution about taking risks which can adversely
affect you. 14, is too young for gambling, and the right
thing was done to notify his parents. What will the 14
year old do, why he will find a 'backer' who will put his
money for the kid to play, of course. For every 'rule'
there is always a way around it ... Didn't you ever cut
classes in school ... lol

If the kid 16, is smart enough to play that good of Pool to
begin with, he should be smart enough to conclude:
as Dana Carvey would say:
No Money is bad.
Lots of Money is good.
and figure out the ramifications from being broke. If a kid
16 gets into trouble money wise from gambling, then he
probably doesn't have much discipline about himself in
other areas of life, and could have a tendency to become
overly compulsive. If he does have pretty good discipline,
he might make a few mistakes, straight himself back up,
and be smarter about it in the future. Hell, adults do it
all the time, hustlers depend on certain mindsets to make
a living ... The only difference is knowledge, and understanding
cause and effects from what you do.
Street smart and book smart are 2 different things, and you need
BOTH to survive in this world today, that way you will never
get scammed on Ebay .... lol couldn't help it ... ROFL