Maybe this is one question that has never been asked.

[CocoboloCowboy]

If you do not gamble on Pool, why not

Personally money at risk of loss, I’d distraction, plus the time it took too earn don’t justify the risk.

 

[easy-e]

You don't think anyone has ever asked people why they don't gamble? When is the last time you went to a pool room?

 

[muskyed]

Used to gamble in the 70's when I would visit my dad in Reno. Dad taught me how to play blackjack, sadly he didn't follow his own advice on when to quit and move around. Blackjack was quite easy to win at then if you had the willpower to walk away. Went there many times to visit and always left with more money than I came with. Reno was a fun place then, where you could go out for the day/night and never need a taxi, or your car, as when you walked out of one place, you would just go in the next place next door. Sadly, the gambling and excessive drinking destroyed his life way too soon, and when that happened, I lost all desire to gamble. Wife and I have been to a casino occasionally, but we set a limit of $40 ea and or 2 hr time. Also, we buy a few tickets every week for our league's 50/50 raffle, but really don't consider that gambling as it really puts a lot of money in our league prize funds for the end of year. I really don't have an issue with other people's gambling as it can be a really fun thing to do, but just not for me I guess as I have lived through the other side of it.

 

[straightline]

I'm neither player nor gambler but I will bet a few bucks on pool. It was better when there were pool rooms and the typical crowd where I could get staked. All peanuts and the deal back then was always 50/50. As far as gambling I would rather steal than lose.

 

[logical]

Why is it any more an expectation than with darts, pinball, water-skiing or weightlifting?

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[pt109]

The saying of the crowd I hung with…..
“When you win, you’re stuck whatever you didn’t bet.”

 

[JolietJames]

I will gamble at all those things if the game is right.
Perhaps gamblers gravitate towards pool more than pool players toward gambling?
Tournaments are a form of gambling. Are there weight lifting tournaments? Skiing?
That may be why. Competition makes some want to wager.

 

[justadub]

uhhhh.... cuz i'm not good enough to bet on my pool game?

I need to hang onto the money that I have. And I don't have the need to risk any of it playing pool. No knock on those who enjoy gambling, it just ain't for me.

 

[Banger]

Because all of those winnings would put me in a higher tax bracket.

 

[MitchAlsup]

I don't gamble (99% level) because I don't want to take the other person's money.

 

[gregcantrall]

What portion of the "I don't gamble" crowd really mean, "I don't gamble but I will steal" ?
In my experience it's more than half.

 

[SlateMan]

I hate that it makes liars or perceived liars out of people. If I tell you my true speed and we put money on the line, I might play out of my skull and then I look like a liar. I'll make a few crazy shots I am not supposed to make and you will think I am lying. Even though I'll miss several straight in shots that show the inconsistency in my stroke that averages out my speed.

I will bet small $10 to $20 bets on sets. Hopefully for that kind of money, no one is tempted to lie, steal, or cheat. If they are, then they need the money more than me.

 

[Fatboy]

I’ve never considered it gambling

 

[gregcantrall]

I’ve never considered it gambling

It's a contest of skill and not gambling between two players. It's gambling if betting on the side. A judge in Washington state determined that in a case brought by Harry Platis.

 

[Fatboy]

It's a contest of skill and not gambling between two players. It's gambling if betting on the side. A judge in Washington state determined that in a case brought by Harry Platis.

Harry is a good friend. I’ve played him many times.

 

[MitchAlsup]

I don't gamble (99% level) because I don't want to take the other person's money.

Let me tell about the other 1% of the time::

a) A bit more than a decade ago, I (and Craig) were at the local Bar shooting pool when a new batch of Frat recruits came in all boisterous and making a racket wanting to gamble for pitchers of beer--time was about 9:30. So, since they looked so deservingly out of place in a nice quiet establishment that we were, I decided to go against my basic instinct and said, "sure". When We left at 2:00, I had drunk as much beer as I ever wanted (about 3 pitchers myself, another 2½ for Craig), and we had given a pitcher of beer to every table in the bar that would accept a pitcher of beer, without loosing a single game. Those kinds of people do deserve to be separated from their money.

b) A few years later, still nearly a decade ago, I walked into the local bar (same one) on a random Wed. night with my pool cue strapped to my back, and this gentleman in nice attire at the bar slowly rotated on the bar stool, raised his head and said:: "Want to play for $50". Generally, I would turn this down flat, but after thinking about it for a second, replaying that I had gone to the bank that afternoon and could afford to loose at least $100 without ruining my night, and since he ask in a nice way; I altered from my normal MO and said yes. The first game was close, but I eked it out (basically getting warmed up), and he ask if I would go double or nothing while handing me a $50 bill--to which I agreed. The second game I broke and ran, he handed me another $50, and I ask the bar tender to get him anything he wanted. That paid my bar tab for ½ a week! Never saw him again, but about 6 weeks later I found out that a regular local I play against often had gone to a different (more high end pool) bar and ask for their hustler to come over and put me in my place. My regular local opponent suddenly lost interest in playing pool altogether...........at least at my bar........

 

[SlateMan]

I hate that it makes liars or perceived liars out of people. If I tell you my true speed and we put money on the line, I might play out of my skull and then I look like a liar. I'll make a few crazy shots I am not supposed to make and you will think I am lying. Even though I'll miss several straight in shots that show the inconsistency in my stroke that averages out my speed.

I will bet small $10 to $20 bets on sets. Hopefully for that kind of money, no one is tempted to lie, steal, or cheat. If they are, then they need the money more than me.

 

[garczar]

Playing friends cheap sets is one thing. Gambling with someone for more serious $$ is totally different. I'm there for ONE reason: to take their money. Any advantage i can get going in i'm going to take.

 

[NevadaP]

Used to gamble in the 70's when I would visit my dad in Reno. Dad taught me how to play blackjack, sadly he didn't follow his own advice on when to quit and move around. Blackjack was quite easy to win at then if you had the willpower to walk away. Went there many times to visit and always left with more money than I came with. Reno was a fun place then, where you could go out for the day/night and never need a taxi, or your car, as when you walked out of one place, you would just go in the next place next door. Sadly, the gambling and excessive drinking destroyed his life way too soon, and when that happened, I lost all desire to gamble. Wife and I have been to a casino occasionally, but we set a limit of $40 ea and or 2 hr time. Also, we buy a few tickets every week for our league's 50/50 raffle, but really don't consider that gambling as it really puts a lot of money in our league prize funds for the end of year. I really don't have an issue with other people's gambling as it can be a really fun thing to do, but just not for me I guess as I have lived through the other side of it.

If you walk around old downtown Reno unarmed at night now, you are gambling.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I always like Tournament play, you paid your entry fee. Then you play for a prize pot, if you placed in top 2 or 3 you got something for your effort.

Not much out of pocket just 5-7 bucks.