Addiction to various kinds of substances or activities is nothing new in our society. With the plethora of entertainment or recreational options available today, it is easy to walk into the trap of addiction, be it towards video games, computers, or even iPhones. Almost all children and a sizeable portion of adults who know how to surf the Internet are addicted to some or the other social networking website. Of course, I won’t even mention the most obvious addictions such as alcohol and drugs.
But the latest addiction doing the rounds of our society is the one for gambling — especially online gambling now that technology has helped take the casino out of the street and bring it inside our homes. And while poker fits nowhere even close to the league of mindless betting games gambling usually involves, it doesn’t stop a number of people from treating it as such and blowing away their life savings on it.
Reasons for Poker Addiction – Where Addicts Get it Wrong
- The very first reason behind poker addiction is probably the fact that when people look at the glamorized ESPN broadcasts of the World Series of Poker over and over again, they begin to believe they’re the next Phil Helmuth in the making. They probably even dream of how they would look like in the Ferrari or Porsche they will buy from their poker winnings.
- Dreaming is good, but you need to temper it with reality and remind yourself that crazy unplanned and over aggressive bets won’t get you there no matter how hard you try.
- You can play easily at home now, so people lose perspective and all track of time. When that happens, remind yourself of the magic phrase, “bankroll management!”
- Just cause you don’t have to pay your credit card bill right away, it doesn’t mean the poker account funded with your credit card comes for free.
- Okay, you hit the jackpot last weekend with your buddies. Get over it! The pros – or even amateurs if you’re not as good as you think you are – will kill you if you rest too much on your laurels and don’t learn all the tricks of the trade.
- When you lose a risky bet you made on a bad hand, that’s not quote for “try again buddy.” Usually it means, “you don’t know what the hell you’re doing, so cut your losses”.
- Poker is NOT easy money. No matter how easy just sitting with a bunch of cards through a few days and taking home a million dollars looks, it really isn’t.
- Accepting a bad run should not equal low self esteem. You win some, you lose some. If you see your opponent’s smug face smile at your loss, remind yourself that you can be bigger than that. Don’t be the crazy guy he wants you to be by betting even more in a race to defeat him.
Some More Tips to Avoid Poker Addiction
Around 4 to 7% of all the people playing poker in casinos are addicts. And the worst part is that they don’t even know why they’re that way. If you ever find yourself in that boat, just take a few moments to reflect on the reasons why you’re playing when you clearly shouldn’t, and then write down the answer. In most cases, you’ll see it’s for things other than pragmatism.
If you want to spend money for relaxation, don’t play poker with it; go to a massage parlor. Spend more quality time with friends and family members as well as with pets and children; go out more often; time your computer to shut down after a set number of hours of poker; or just take up new interests like music, art, angling, or reading so that you can use your non-poker time for self growth instead of obsessing over what you made or lost in that last game.
And if the reason behind poker addiction is a need for adrenaline rush and excitement, take up challenging hobbies such Go-Karting, rock climbing, scuba diving, hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, bungee jumping, and so on. This in turn will restore your mental balance and help you in managing your poker play as a professional without getting addicted to it.
I know there are great stories about how people in need bet their last dollar at the table and came out winners, but you’re probably not going to be a part of one of them. So quit trying. If you have money problems, just consult a credit counselor to sort them out.
In short, there are plenty of healthy substitute behaviors for every reason behind poker addiction. It is only when you learn to play with an open mind out of love for the game and not because of underlying emotional/financial issues, will you learn to play poker responsibly without becoming an addict. The main idea here is to have a well rounded, balanced, and healthy personal and social life.
Believe me, this isn’t just some feel-good stuff I’m dishing out to you. There are so many famous poker players, celebs, and gurus we watch on TV, who have taken up this game as a profession without getting trapped into addiction problems. They play their game clinically, using their reason, skill, and experience without getting emotionally involved. That’s the mark of poker professionals, and that’s the right attitude with which you should approach the game.
Conclusion
The moment you feel you are becoming addicted to poker, stop playing it till you clear your head. Focus on sharpening your skills instead of constantly thinking about the money you could win. This will help you enjoy your poker outings and look at your game in a more mature and constructive manner rather than a means to making a quick buck.
Do you want to become a better poker player? Learn the 6 things you need to do to win heads up!
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