Why is gambling so popular in pool?

Gambling for the sucker is excitement, gambling for 90%of the " hustler's" is a way to pay the table time and have a few bucks left over to take to the racetrack, casino, or boobie bar and throw away.

If you pay attention in the pool room , you will see the guys who really enjoy playing , they are at all levels.
They want to bet a few dollars and have some fun {nothing wrong with that!}
Then you watch the guys who just sit around and wait till one of those guys wants to play bad enough to make a horrible game , then and only then will they ever get up and play.
That's not gambling.
I have all the respect in the world for 2 guys who are pretty evenly matched and get up and play, especially on their own money.
I have the utmost distaste for the 5 or 10 dollar one pocket or dollar or 2 nine ball "hustler" who wouldn't play someone his speed if you put a gun to his head.
Unfortuneately , once you have been in the poolroom more than a few times , that seems to be the first move everyone learns.
There is a guy I know who has booked 95% winners for the last 30 years, if he loses one game he doesn't care if you slopped every ball in , he isn't playing another one that day.
I have seen him be in action several days in a row , then people remember and nobody will play him for 6 months , he doesn't care , he's there every day , waiting like death.
He never accepts a game where he doesn't have at least 2 balls the best of it. He actually plays a really good game.
I have watched him many times and he seldom misses when he needs to do something no matter how difficult it is , I would rate him a B+ or A minus player and he is usually matched up with beginners or at the most mid C players.
I have also seen him getting 2 or 3 balls weight from guys he can beat even.
You have to ask yourself at the end of the day , is it worth going every day and slithering around to make 5 hundred or so a year ?
 
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Harvey Pennick, one of the best golf instructors of all time God rest his soul, said you should always play for something, even if its just a little amount.

Having something on the game makes you concentrate more and creates pressure. It helps the player in times when there is more than just a small wager.

I see this w league players. Play great in practice then game time comes up and they choke and their nerves are crushing them.
 
ExilePreacher said:
Because you can make money.
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I am not sure many who gamble at pool are trying to win money. It just makes it real and is a way of keeping score. Many times after a matche the winner may say he will get the time that may be half of what he won. Obviously he is not playing for the profit he may make.
 
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Neil said:
The reason people play for money is simple. The answer is simply to make money. Same thing that drives a lot of endeavors. If one really thinks they can make money doing it, they would be foolish not to. Of course, many along the way find out their thinking was wrong to start with, but many do make money playing pool.

It's also a way to measure ones skill from hard work. One puts enough work into their game, most like to get paid for it. Gambling can do that.
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I doubt someone invests years in playing and thousands and thousands of practice dollars to beat a guy a $50.00 game of one pocket. Winning money is not why people play the game even those who like to gamble.
 
Next time you get a chance to watch the Huslter, pay close attention to Eddies attitude toward playing pool.

It was never about the money to him.....just being the best at something.

There are still players like this. Never play for money, or very, very seldom, for very little, yet they are very skilled players. It is the drive to be the best, to play your best at all times. Money isn't the reason to play, to play is to be alive to them.

I'm in this very small group of players. I play my best game all the time. It's not something to be turned on or off, that's just not me.

To win.......that's what it all boils down, nothing else matters.

It really is a myth that you need to play for something to get better. All its takes to get better is wanting to get better. The desire not to lose, desire not to miss that god damn easy shot ever again.

Desire is what gets one better.
 
duckie said:
Next time you get a chance to watch the Huslter, pay close attention to Eddies attitude toward playing pool.

It was never about the money to him.....just being the best at something.

There are still players like this. Never play for money, or very, very seldom, for very little, yet they are very skilled players. It is the drive to be the best, to play your best at all times. Money isn't the reason to play, to play is to be alive to them.

I'm in this very small group of players. I play my best game all the time. It's not something to be turned on or off, that's just not me.

To win.......that's what it all boils down, nothing else matters.

It really is a myth that you need to play for something to get better. All its takes to get better is wanting to get better. The desire not to lose, desire not to miss that god damn easy shot ever again.

Desire is what gets one better.
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I agree that status is probably more important than winning money to some. That could also be one reason gambling is popular. If you cant beat someone then you can outmatch them.

Then there is also a possibility that pool attracts a certain type thinker who likes to analyze and figure things out like patterns, shots required, odds to win.

Then I also think that even though I believe that status is a big driving force for playing, I also believe that just the fact that you can win money does play a role in why people gamble at pool.

So it is a combination of reasons imo.


P.S. Isn't hustling chess pretty popular also?
 
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the best answer i can give is


BECAUSE THATS WHAT MEN DO.....in general men are rough, tough and cant get enough.

Of making a difference, accomplishing something, building something........its a want for more.

we also like to have fun....risks can be exhilarating.

go find Ned Polskys: Hustlers, beats, odds and others.

its the best psychological book on basically the last strongholds of mandom lol....you know places unpoken that women dont really participate....and dont give me shit about saying that in this PC world.

Its not that women dont belong. But there are endeavours that women have not really gotten a strong hold of or just recently have entered into in large numbers. Remember 50 years ago was really just yesterday. Men and women are totally different....you know mars and venus....well no you probably are too young (no offense) to really KNOW KNOW what i mean (go read men are from mars women are from venus) thats probably the easiest way to get the full grip lol.

anyway.....i ran all over the country in the pool halls consisting i'd say 99% in my mind were all men....couple women, hopefully a few hot pro hoes as some of the guys would call them....in high school the jock lovers were called cleat chasers....then man hood happens....then pro hoes...man talk....i also work in the gulf of mexico for around a decade in the oil and gas industry....and guess what its really similar too inner culture wise???? JUST LIKE THE POOL HALL...except we cant drink, and do drugs lol....our job is just the playing pool part...but trust me there is that same teir of skill levels out there too just like in the pool hall. You have pros and you have donkeys...the whole ladder

Why? Because we are men. Now go get a job. Make some money and be a man. Which means: Go get a job and use your money to do wtf you feel like doing (be nice/ish and stay within the law lol)

Shades of eastwood and Duke Wayne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtfWNIJz-Vo
 
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duckie said:
Next time you get a chance to watch the Huslter, pay close attention to Eddies attitude toward playing pool.

It was never about the money to him.....just being the best at something.

There are still players like this. Never play for money, or very, very seldom, for very little, yet they are very skilled players. It is the drive to be the best, to play your best at all times. Money isn't the reason to play, to play is to be alive to them.

I'm in this very small group of players. I play my best game all the time. It's not something to be turned on or off, that's just not me.

To win.......that's what it all boils down, nothing else matters.

It really is a myth that you need to play for something to get better. All its takes to get better is wanting to get better. The desire not to lose, desire not to miss that god damn easy shot ever again.

Desire is what gets one better.
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I'm with you
I don't need money to make me not want to miss ANY shot EVER
 
SamLambert said:
I have been wondering about this for a while, it seems gambling is a major part in pool. I've heard it's common for Filipinos to not even play if there's no money on the table. "Hustling pool" seems to be very common. I've had some offers to play for $$$ when practicing at some places. It seems very prevalent!

I can't find many comparisons, but I don't think betting 50$ on a set is common in table tennis, or tennis itself. Or playing chess, or checkers.

I might be wrong, I don't know much about the sports/games I listed, but I'd bet (:p) gambling is not as common in them as it is for pool.

Why is it like that? Is it because it's most often played in bars and such?
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How many other sports do you participate in, rookie? And I don't mean in your backyard or on the playground with other kids your age. I mean where other grown men get together and compete seriously. Have you ever been on public basketball court? You think people get upset and mean in a pool hall? I've never seen a foul in pool where you got knocked on your ass or an elbow to the face. People, especially men, gamble. Banks already alluded to one certain truth in life...and that is money won is much sweeter than money earned. Now get outta here kid, you're botherin' me.
 
SamLambert said:
I have been wondering about this for a while, it seems gambling is a major part in pool. I've heard it's common for Filipinos to not even play if there's no money on the table. "Hustling pool" seems to be very common. I've had some offers to play for $$$ when practicing at some places. It seems very prevalent!

I can't find many comparisons, but I don't think betting 50$ on a set is common in table tennis, or tennis itself. Or playing chess, or checkers.

I might be wrong, I don't know much about the sports/games I listed, but I'd bet (:p) gambling is not as common in them as it is for pool.

Why is it like that? Is it because it's most often played in bars and such?
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Young man you have a lot to learn about the world. Go rent Guys and Dolls and you will understand that everything has action. Pool in America was mostly in barbershops where they betting pools. So men would go back to the betting area known as the pool and play billiards and eventually people just called it pool. If true then each generation of players grew up watching the older guys gambling and just adopted the habit.

Go to New York and you can get all the table tennis action you can handle. And golf, are you kidding? What's bet on golf between golfers competing each year would fund a professional pool tour for a hundred years.

I know a guy that won a tour bus, one of the luxury German ones playing chess. Chess hustlers are common in any big city park where chess is played.

And checkers? Well since you're going to be learning CTE someday you should know that Stan's dad Dr. Shuffett was a checkers champion and authored several books that are regarded as the top level about checkers strategy.

As for why it's popular in pool is because it lends itself to something that can be done without any prior arrangement, in a small space and needs no special clothes or even to be in shape. People are competitive and pool is a perfect way to have as many heads-up matches you want to have to test yourself.

Until you do become world class speed then your easy action dries up and you only have world beaters to play or you have give up major weight.

And never forget the supreme golden adage of gambling, "Money won is twice as sweet as money earned" - Fast Eddie Felson.

And the other one, if you walk into the pool room and can't spot the sucker then you are the sucker.

spotthesucker-a-front.jpg

spotthesucker-b-back.jpg


Spot the Sucker Case by JB Cases
 
primal

It's a primal male thing...

grab your weapon and your testicles and compete one-on-one with something on the line.

Money is the most universally accepted reward.... voila... gambling.

I hope these younger generations haven't been liberally castrated to the point that they don't realize that it's OK for a man to be a man... and that losing is part of the game. Nothing like losing your last twenty to accelerate your learning curve.
 
billiardthought said:
I have heard, although never experienced this myself of course, that every so often people will also bet on basketball, football, and even baseball too! It's probably VERY uncommon though.
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If ya talking about NLCS this yr , you're right !

Watched 1st few innings last night, and got about excited as watching a hand-ball game in a schoolyard. :boring2:

(Please don't ask me to explain what handball is....) :p
 
Smooth said:
It's a primal male thing...

grab your weapon and your testicles and compete one-on-one with something on the line.

Money is the most universally accepted reward.... voila... gambling.

I hope these younger generations haven't been liberally castrated to the point that they don't realize that it's OK for a man to be a man... and that losing is part of the game. Nothing like losing your last twenty to accelerate your learning curve.
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Green for you .
 
I think its just competitive drive that makes people gamble. I would not consider myself a gambler but I am very competitive. When there are pool tournaments I play in at casinos I do not gamble in the casino. I also do not really play cards for money either, if I choose to gamble it will be on tests of skill not games of chance. I will gamble with opponents, not for large sums, but for $$$ non the less. When you enter a tournament you are gambling. I spent 20+ years racing, say what you want about it but it is basically gambling otherwise there would be no entry fees and prize funds. I think its just what competitive people do. Even at work, a guy throws something in the garbage can from 20 feet away and makes it and you say "bet you a buck you cant do it again". Maybe it has to do with an "I am better than you attitude", I don't know. I do believe you get your opponents best game if there are a couple bucks riding on it. Oh yeah, money won is definitely sweeter than money earned.
 
galipeau said:
The term "pool" came about from betting houses that provided services for gambling on horse racing. They would often have billiard tables there as an activity while waiting on the races. Naturally gambling became associated with billiards in these "Pool Halls" where money was collected (pooled) and paid off...

There's your fun fact of the day!
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Betting on horse races is still done by putting all the bets into a "pari-mutuel pool", which is then split among the winners. Probably not coincidentally, it's also the way that pool tournament "calcuttas" are run.

pj
chgo
 
Colin Colenso said:
Part of what makes the best pool players great is having personality traits akin to sociopaths.

One aspect of being a sociopath is a complete lack of empathy, and this trait shines among the elite.

They also hate losing so much that they'll spend many hours after each game considering what shot options or how to apply them could have garnered victory.

They may guise such traits under ambition or being goal focused, but the best in any sport that in not simply brute strength have a significant degree of sociopathic leanings.

And sociopaths often require stimulus, via risk, and gambling is one way to achieve this.

Colin
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Ugh...Colin,
That's a curious thread from someone who started a thread at 7:30 this morning announcing possible plans to make a gambling tour of the states and playing for 1k a set.

Michael Jordan is a prime example of the personality type you describe. He was a ruthless competitor. He didn't want to just beat his opponents; he wanted to dominate his opponents. Then that wasn't enough. He wanted to engrave in their psych for eternity his dominance. He couldn't even stop at his hall of fame acceptance speech. It was a diatribe exhorting any rival who dared, during any time of their career, to question his all encompassing superiority in all aspects of the game.

All that being said, If one of his rivals had a heart attack and died during a game, I don't think Michael would be unaffected. A sociopath WOULD be unaffected. Also; if Michael was sitting behind me in a movie theater, I wouldn't worry about him pulling out a gun and shooting.......Same with Earl Strickland. So Colin; maybe you should tone it down a bit.
 
Nobody wants to "gamble" they all want a lock. If somebody is asking they're pretty sure they have the best of it. All the people on here saying it keeps it interesting wouldn't bet a dime against a stronger player. (EXCEPT BARTON AND BARTRUM) Sorry to group you two together :eek:
 
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