If you were not allowed to Gamble on Pool would you quit the game?

CocoboloCowboy said:
Thought I would pose this question, not talking about Tournment were players pay entry fee, and at end winners are payed out from those fee, or added money, or sponsors money, merchandise.

I am talking about strictly match play, Party B, v/s Party A for a wadger, on game, set, or number of games won.
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15 years ago I would have said no. 10 years ago, I probably would have still said no.

Today, I more then likely would quit if I couldnt gamble. The competition you get from gambling is something that a pool league can't provide me and decent tournaments on decent equipment are just too few and far between, especially these days. Not to mention, most of the larger tournaments around here are held over 2 days on the weekend and working full time and being a Husband and Father, my weekends normally go to my family. I squeeze out 2 nights during the week to match up at my local pool hall. I get in those tournaments on occasion, just hard to commit to them.

I still practice and shit... but without that regular higher level competition, there isnt really anything to practice for... I mean, I would still probably hit balls at home here and there for recreation, but I wouldnt really call that "playing".
 
I played for money as a way of keeping score. My goal was to make my opponent surrender. The denomination of the wager could have a magnifying effect on my focus.
Grampa story:

I had a friend that I would spar with after work. He played well but didn’t “gamble”. We both enjoyed our matches and played even. One evening we had a new challenger at our bar table. Each time his quarter came up it was friends table. Each time he asked for a wager and friend declined. So about 3 games (and beers which was my after work get to normal) as I was walking to the men’s room, I overheard him loud talking to the young lady he was trying to impress. “This guy plays so good but he won’t gamble.” I ruminating as at the urinal and decided he was very disrespectful to my friend (and had NO chance). So on my way back I stopped at his table and informed him (in front of Her) that I liked to gamble.
I charged him $35 for his infraction.
 
Icon of Sin said:
15 years ago I would have said no. 10 years ago, I probably would have still said no.

Today, I more then likely would quit if I couldnt gamble. The competition you get from gambling is something that a pool league can't provide me and decent tournaments on decent equipment are just too few and far between, especially these days. Not to mention, most of the larger tournaments around here are held over 2 days on the weekend and working full time and being a Husband and Father, my weekends normally go to my family. I squeeze out 2 nights during the week to match up at my local pool hall. I get in those tournaments on occasion, just hard to commit to them.

I still practice and shit... but without that regular higher level competition, there isnt really anything to practice for... I mean, I would still probably hit balls at home here and there for recreation, but I wouldnt really call that "playing".
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Pretty much how I feel. I hate sitting around waiting for my next match in a tourney, when I can just play one on one and flip the coin immediately.
 
I don't need the money, or much more importantly, the headache. More often than not, gambling for even small amounts of money causes an argument over something. The rolls, the balls, the cloth, the humidity, at least one of the corner pockets was put together incorrectly and rejecting balls for only that one person, someone moved their hand across the room and sharked them, the rack is never tight, never straight, the coffee is too weak, too cold, or too strong, the milk is sour, they don't like 2% milk and it's messing with their head, etc. etc. If you play well, you *have* to give weight the next set or you're hustling. And you *have* to play the next set and endure the never ending bitchfest.

Pass.
 
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JusticeNJ said:
I don't need the money, or much more importantly, the headache. More often than not, gambling for even small amounts of money causes an argument over something. The rolls, the balls, the cloth, the humidity, at least one of the corner pockets was put together incorrectly and rejecting balls for only that one person, someone moved their hand across the room and sharked them, the rack is never tight, never straight, the coffee is too weak, too cold, or too strong, the milk is sour, they don't like 2% milk and it's messing with their head, etc. etc. If you play well, you *have* to give weight the next set or you're hustling. And you *have* to play the next set and endure the never ending bitchfest.

Pass.
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This is contrary to my experience. I have seen more disputes over the quarter on a challenge table than I have over stakes in the game. My number one rule was don’t play for any more than I can afford to loose or be cheated out of. Quite often I had people playing me for cheap entertainment. They didn’t mind paying for a demonstration of skills in a sport they enjoyed.
 
I've only every played one money match before for twenty quid on a race to five frames, so, no, I wouldn't quit playing. I would have no problems playing the odd game for a bit of cash between friends, so long as it's not an inordinate amount.
 
On my way to Reno to watch the Sands tournament I stopped in Redding and went to the Tropics. I used to live there and knew money games happened there. I go in and sit at the bar. Upon service of a beer I asked the bartender if anyone of the happy hour crowd played for money. The guy next to me perked up and says, “I will play you for $5.” He wins the flip and breaks and runs 2. I get a shot in the third but miss a tricky ball in the side and he’s out again. Up $15 he announced he was done. I was okay with it but the happy hour crowd took offense. So they lined up the quarters on the rail and played me for $5 . How hospitable. Not sure if I could have beat Mr Done Now. 🤷
 
gregcantrall said:
On my way to Reno to watch the Sands tournament I stopped in Redding and went to the Tropics. I used to live there and knew money games happened there. I go in and sit at the bar. Upon service of a beer I asked the bartender if anyone of the happy hour crowd played for money. The guy next to me perked up and says, “I will play you for $5.” He wins the flip and breaks and runs 2. I get a shot in the third but miss a tricky ball in the side and he’s out again. Up $15 he announced he was done. I was okay with it but the happy hour crowd took offense. So they lined up the quarters on the rail and played me for $5 . How hospitable. Not sure if I could have beat Mr Done Now. 🤷
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That's great! Dude saved you some money!
 
JusticeNJ said:
I don't need the money, or much more importantly, the headache. More often than not, gambling for even small amounts of money causes an argument over something. The rolls, the balls, the cloth, the humidity, at least one of the corner pockets was put together incorrectly and rejecting balls for only that one person, someone moved their hand across the room and sharked them, the rack is never tight, never straight, the coffee is too weak, too cold, or too strong, the milk is sour, they don't like 2% milk and it's messing with their head, etc. etc. If you play well, you *have* to give weight the next set or you're hustling. And you *have* to play the next set and endure the never ending bitchfest.

Pass.
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Exactly! Perfectly stated!
 
JusticeNJ said:
I don't need the money, or much more importantly, the headache. More often than not, gambling for even small amounts of money causes an argument over something. The rolls, the balls, the cloth, the humidity, at least one of the corner pockets was put together incorrectly and rejecting balls for only that one person, someone moved their hand across the room and sharked them, the rack is never tight, never straight, the coffee is too weak, too cold, or too strong, the milk is sour, they don't like 2% milk and it's messing with their head, etc. etc. If you play well, you *have* to give weight the next set or you're hustling. And you *have* to play the next set and endure the never ending bitchfest.

Pass.
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Playing for cash is about the cash. The player has to at the very least be that committed. The action I've been around, most of the players adopt this shut up and play ethic. If you play for enjoyment or other spiritual reasons, you probably have a small group of players that you can dependably interact with. Something like a musical group I imagine. If you walk away enriched, you are the lucky one.
 
middleofnowhere said:
Love to play by myself. Can practice for hours. Really have gambled very little in the past years. I have little desire to win anyone's money anymore nor lose my own. In most cases when someone wants to gamble, they actually want a lock.

I always remember guys coming in the pool room and profess "nobody in this place wants to gamble". The answer is sure they do just make a fair game and see how much gamble you get, you'll get plenty.

There's been some talk on here recently about Danny Diliberto. Danny was always broke. One of the reasons Danny was always broke well actually too. One was the racetrack. But the second was he loved to play and always made fair games.

When he was younger he no sooner would walk in the pool room when he's on a table hitting balls and before you know it he's made some game he probably can't win at. Playing some guy one pocket like 13 to 5 or something.

Not for a lot maybe 5 or 10 dollars a game but when you're in a bad game that adds up.
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Man you don’t gamble so just stop ! Doesn’t matter what you say . I’m 16,000$ stuck to a nit named Tiger in NOLA and I’m ready to play more so yeah if I couldn’t gamble playing pool I would quit ! Y’all have fun playing for fun , I can’t help it
 
gypsy_soul said:
Man you don’t gamble so just stop ! Doesn’t matter what you say . I’m 16,000$ stuck to a nit named Tiger in NOLA and I’m ready to play more so yeah if I couldn’t gamble playing pool I would quit ! Y’all have fun playing for fun , I can’t help it
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Lol my brother from another mother...
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Thought I would pose this question, not talking about Tournment were players pay entry fee, and at end winners are payed out from those fee, or added money, or sponsors money, merchandise.

I am talking about strictly match play, Party B, v/s Party A for a wadger, on game, set, or number of games won.
Click to expand...
 
fastone371 said:
Technically I do not think we are allowed to gamble against each other, are we???
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In Indiana it’s ok to bet with your opponent but not legal for railbirds to bet (though it goes on discretely as I’m sure it does most places), don’t know about other states.
 
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