Ask your friends, family, neighbors. Like it or not, most will tell you that poker is a gambling game. On that basis, some well-meaning people frown on the game—even though it offers many benefits aside from the potential of winning money.
 
After years of pondering this question, I agree: Poker is gambling! Let me explain. The most widely accepted definition for “gambling” is:
 
Gambling is risking something of value on an uncertain outcome in the hope of a reward.
 
Think about it. When we play poker, we risk our money in an activity with an uncertain result, hoping to go home richer. But the same is true in many of life’s other endeavors and activities.
 
Examples in Life. A new business opens. The owner, an entrepreneur, hopes to make a profit from his venture, but the end result is far from certain. In fact, most small businesses fail during their first year. The risk is substantial; he could lose his entire investment, including a mortgage on his home—and any wages he might have earned while trying to build his business. He is gambling.
 
Recently a 59 year-old man was killed by an automobile while crossing the street in downtown Los Angeles. Since the advent of automobiles, pedestrians and automobile occupants have been injured and killed by similar accidents. That man gambled with his life—and lost. But who would consider legislation to stop people from crossing the street or driving their cars? So why would anyone enact a law that discourages playing poker as a form of gambling?
 
Every time you walk across a street, every time you climb into your automobile and drive somewhere, you are gambling. You are gambling with your life! Can you be absolutely certain you will reach your destination? Your only reward is to reach your destination. Indeed, gambling is inherent in our lives—even if we never play poker.
 
Think about it. Can we ever be absolutely certain of the outcome of any activity in which we engage, even such routine tasks as heating our food on the stove? Cleaning out the garage? Driving to the casino to play poker?
 
The Three Key Gambling Issues. Based on the most common definition of gambling, there are three key issues that are most pertinent:
 
(1) The degree (or amount) of risk;
 
(2) The likelihood—or probability—of failure; and
 
(3) The consequences of failure.
 
Suggestion: Rather than focus on whether an activity is gambling, our society should consider these three key gambling issues.
 
It all boils down to risk vs. reward. It’s what a prudent company does when it conducts a risk/benefits analysis. A life-insurance company could not stay in business if it failed to consider its operating costs plus the money it will eventually pay out to the heirs of the deceased insured person, based on actuarial information. Still, the life-insurance company is gambling ... but in a way which ensures that the fees it collects and the gains from investing these fees will more than offset its losses. That’s what we do when we play poker with a positive expectation!
 
The Bottom Line. Let’s admit it: Poker is gambling. Rather than badmouthing poker as a gambling game, those who would advocate against the game should face up to reality: Gambling is inherent in our lives—in almost everything we do. So, if a politician wants to find fault with any form of gambling, he should judge on the basis of our three key gambling issues. Otherwise, stop being biased against the game of poker; treat it as you would any other type of gambling.
 
Comments? P.S. I would also refer you to Oklahoma Sarah Hale’s column, “Is Poker Gambling?” in the March 29 issue of Poker Player Newspaper, which provides further insight into this issue.
 
George “The Engineer” Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! and Hold’em or Fold’em?—An Algorithm for Making the Key Decision and teaches poker at the Claude Pepper Sr. Citizen Center in Los Angeles. Contact George at geps222@msn.com.