Gambling Ettiquette

[RogerChambers]

In my youth, I used to wager on pool games. Now, it has become an occassional Ring Game for maybe a buck a game. The question I have for the forum is that of a Walking Stake and General Gambling Ettiquette.

Recently, I watched a match between two younger players for a modest wager. One player "broke" the other, leaving him without much, if any, money. There was no hard feelings between the two players before the match but I noticed the winner would not pay for the table time or give the loser a walking stake. When I say a "Walking Stake," I am referring to when one opponent takes all of the other players money and at the end of the match, usually gives him 5% to 10% back so he doesn't leave totally broke. This was only for large wager games, usually starting at $50, $100 or more per set (or game in straight pool). If the winner broke the opponent and let's say, took him for $2000, the winner might give him a walking stake of $100 to $200 back and pay the table time. The winner was not obligated to do this but it looked favorable on the winner as a show of good sportsmanship. Also, a handshake ened the match, not bad feeliings. Naturally, this applied to local players and not the Road Player being backed by a stake horse.

Has anyone ever heard of this before or I am living too far in the past?

I always started the match by wishing the opponent luck and at the end, whether I lost or won, shook his or her hand.

Any comments?

 

[book collector]

Gambling Etiquette

In my youth, I used to wager on pool games. Now, it has become an occassional Ring Game for maybe a buck a game. The question I have for the forum is that of a Walking Stake and General Gambling Ettiquette.

Recently, I watched a match between two younger players for a modest wager. One player "broke" the other, leaving him without much, if any, money. There was no hard feelings between the two players before the match but I noticed the winner would not pay for the table time or give the loser a walking stake. When I say a "Walking Stake," I am referring to when one opponent takes all of the other players money and at the end of the match, usually gives him 5% to 10% back so he doesn't leave totally broke. This was only for large wager games, usually starting at $50, $100 or more per set (or game in straight pool). If the winner broke the opponent and let's say, took him for $2000, the winner might give him a walking stake of $100 to $200 back and pay the table time. The winner was not obligated to do this but it looked favorable on the winner as a show of good sportsmanship. Also, a handshake ened the match, not bad feeliings. Naturally, this applied to local players and not the Road Player being backed by a stake horse.

Has anyone ever heard of this before or I am living too far in the past?

I always started the match by wishing the opponent luck and at the end, whether I lost or won, shook his or her hand.

Any comments?

Most people wish each other luck at the beginning,
I haven't seen much of the last part.
As far as a walking stake, I would do that if the guy was a decent person to play with , or if I had a lock on them. If they tried to pull moves on me or other crap I would pay the time and thats it.
I no longer gamble, but If I play someone and have a great time, if they try to help me with my game or if I think they may not be flush I pay the time. I can afford it.

 

[steev]

Around here it's rare to break someone anymore. They always pull up, like they had a budget on how much to lose. Plus, too common to see guys go 'broke' and are out playing someone else or drinking elsewhere.

Times have changed for sure.

-s

 

[Chi2dxa]

Tales of decades gone bye.

Today its dog eat dog.

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

times are a changing...

Don't see much of this tradition anymore nowadays.

We referred to this a giving the loser a walking "stick" like a cane or crutch to help em out the door after losing their money. Usually, this show of compassion/generousity by a winner was reserved for the higher stakes games, hundreds of dollars or better.

I don't shake hands after matches myself, I'm a little ocd germaphobe. :wink: I will, however, say 'nice shooting' and bang knuckles.

Best,
Brian kc

 

[steveinflorida]

I will bump fists and say nice shooting after the match, if appropriate.
But, wishing my opponent "Good luck" before we play ain't gonna happen.
I don't want him to have the BIG H and drop dead, but, I do want me to have the good luck.

As for a walking stake..........sadly, I think those days are behind us.
If you broke the guy or won big, pay the time. Don't be a nit. JMHO.

 

[SLOW_N_TIGHT]

i personally never say good luck in the begging of a match. i dont wat them to have good luck, no won lies to loose because of luck. i however always say shoot well, id much rather loose cus they shot well. and of course finish the game with a hand shake. WIN LIKE A CHAMPION LOOSE LIKE A CHAMPION.

 

[insanepoolgod]

In my youth, I used to wager on pool games. Now, it has become an occassional Ring Game for maybe a buck a game. The question I have for the forum is that of a Walking Stake and General Gambling Ettiquette.

Recently, I watched a match between two younger players for a modest wager. One player "broke" the other, leaving him without much, if any, money. There was no hard feelings between the two players before the match but I noticed the winner would not pay for the table time or give the loser a walking stake. When I say a "Walking Stake," I am referring to when one opponent takes all of the other players money and at the end of the match, usually gives him 5% to 10% back so he doesn't leave totally broke. This was only for large wager games, usually starting at $50, $100 or more per set (or game in straight pool). If the winner broke the opponent and let's say, took him for $2000, the winner might give him a walking stake of $100 to $200 back and pay the table time. The winner was not obligated to do this but it looked favorable on the winner as a show of good sportsmanship. Also, a handshake ened the match, not bad feeliings. Naturally, this applied to local players and not the Road Player being backed by a stake horse.

Has anyone ever heard of this before or I am living too far in the past?

I always started the match by wishing the opponent luck and at the end, whether I lost or won, shook his or her hand.

Any comments?

1. When I gambled, rarely did anyone go home broke. With the advent of credit card machines in bars and atms in bars or right around the corner, rarely did anyone not have access to cash.

2. When I gambled, 98 percent of the time the winner paid for the table time. The only time the winner generally might not offer to pay for the table time was when the winner only won enough to pay for the table time.

3. When I gambled, only a couple of times did I get people on their very last leg and I knew it. I felt sorry for them for getting themselves in that position and instead of giving them a walking stake, I would give them the nuts on the next set or lay down so they could win back some money.

4. I wish I still gambled.

 

[CarlB]

I don't gamble unless I am going to "enjoy" the game I am playing...win or lose. I will not play with someone if they have a bad attitude or if I think they have bad ettiquette.

I always make sure I am a gentleman and show the ultimate respect for whoever I am playing. I would expect nothing less in return.

As for a walking stake...I have taken someone for everything they had in their pocket and when we went outside to square up...I would let him give me part of it now and the rest the next day so he would still have some cash to gamble with.

If I win, I will always pay the time...so long as I won enough to cover it and still be up.

I always shake hands before and after the match regardless of who won.

Carl

 

[Black-Balled]

i personally never say good luck in the begging of a match. i dont wat them to have good luck, no won lies to loose because of luck. i however always say shoot well, id much rather loose cus they shot well. and of course finish the game with a hand shake. WIN LIKE A CHAMPION LOOSE LIKE A CHAMPION.

uhhh. OK.

IT has been so long since I have seen a penny bet in the poolroom that it doesn't surprise me that a significant absence of gentlemanly consideration has disappeared.