How old should our youth players be before they start gambing in pool?

It depends

Gambling for me was an essential part of growing up starting with pitching quarters in the bathroom of the elementary school, playing for a quarter or a soda at the skating rink etc.

It builds character and negotiation skills that I think a lot of kids now are missing.
 
Kids aren't usually better off "sheltered," however, they are better off informed.

spktur said:
When I first met Shannon, he was 12 at a tournament in Richmond Ky at the Maverick Club. When I got there he was in the nack on the practice tables playing 9-ball for $100 a game with a guy who was about 45. Shannon was ahead and the guy tried to bump up the game to get it back and Shannon said 'No, I won at a $100 a game and if you want it back you can win it back at a $100 a game and if you don't like it you can quit'. I did leave out the more colorful language, at 12 his language was pretty colorful.
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I started gambling at age 12 for small amounts and at 15 began playing for $50 a game (high stakes ;)). I was playing a guy named "Fergy" in Quincy Ill. and ended up winning about $300. Gambling is like drinking or cussing for kids, if you keep them from doing it, they'll just want to rebel more.

Shannon and I played when he was 12 and I was 18 in Summerset Ky. I was with "Junior Weldon" and we passed ourselves off as computer salesman and if anyone knows Junior you will know what happened. Shannon was one of the most "colorful" kids I had ever met (still to this day).

My personal opinion is to let kids gamble, but be willing to have a conversation about it like you would sex, drugs, drinking, etc. Gambling ruins lives if done irresponsibly, just like many other things so it should be handled responsibly by the adults. Kids aren't usually better off "sheltered," however, they are better off informed and educated. 'The Adult is the Teacher'
 
I guess it depends if your a good parent or trailer trash...

Good parent = never

trailer trash = asap

I'm on the side of never
 
As long as they only gamble with someone their own age. I think its fine. Too bad in pool, too many adults rationalize "teaching" a child a lesson by robbing them. I have seen 100 times the number of kids leave a pool hall and never come back vs. kids learning how to match up and play pool.
 
Drew said:
I agree...let's make a law against it. While we're at it, let's outlaw smoking, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs too.

Oh, wait a minute...those laws already exists.

How many times must we endure the tyranny of prohibition before you realize that it just doesn't work?
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Also, a good azz whippin' on the table IS an education, for sure.

There are many ways to educate someone about the problems with gambling. It's better when those are available to the educators to use without risking jail time.

Jeff Livingston
 
maxeypad2007 said:
It depends

Gambling for me was an essential part of growing up starting with pitching quarters in the bathroom of the elementary school, playing for a quarter or a soda at the skating rink etc.

It builds character and negotiation skills that I think a lot of kids now are missing.
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THAT is a perfect example of what I was trying to say in my previous post, above.

Jeff Livingston
 
It's funny the contrast in opinion between old school and new school players...
 
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rant rant rant

Drew said:
I agree...let's make a law against it. While we're at it, let's outlaw smoking, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs too.

Oh, wait a minute...those laws already exists.

How many times must we endure the tyranny of prohibition before you realize that it just doesn't work?
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Drew said:
The subject of this thread is gambling, not pool.

Most parents are likely to discourage their children from gambling/smoking/drugs/etc. However, some children will still do it. The real question is whether or not you would rather your child gamble in an established business or throwing dice in some dark alley.

You must realize that you can't control people. If I want to shoot heroine, I'm going to do it. If I can't get it at walgreens, I'll get it from the corner drug dealer. As a parent, which would you prefer?
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Merry Christmas.
 
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ChrisBanks said:
18? 21? A different number?

Does it make a difference if they are not betting their own money? Does it make a difference if the gambling session is monitored by a parental guardian?
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justadub said:
What's your opinion?

You start all of these threads and never state your own opinion on the subject.

It is curious.
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I"m still waiting to hear the answer to this as well.
 
Gambler

How about Gambling on a college education the unemployment rate for college grads is under 5%.....
MCP
 
ha?

Golf has it all wrong amateurs can only make $600 in a year or loose their am. status. They make millions as pro,s.You can tell a 12 yr. old about safe sex and to drink responsibly hows that working?Let them learn the game how to play and have character they dont need to gamble to be good.play tournaments. parents dont live threw your kids.
 
ChrisBanks said:
18? 21? A different number?

Does it make a difference if they are not betting their own money? Does it make a difference if the gambling session is monitored by a parental guardian?
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this is stupid question. we should be teaching our youths to never gamble.
 
i think gambling is like sex, it is a personal topic that comes in time. i don't recommend any one pushing it on a young person. as an adult you have a responsibility to any young person not to be a bad influence. ask yourself are you qualified to give solid instruction and good advice?, or are you a pervert or a pimp? the best thing you can do is educate them so they have the power to make better decisions.
 
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