Re: Is poker gambling?
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You all do realize that this is much more an argument over how to define the term "gambling" than an argument over what is poker. Poker is a game of skill and luck - how much of each is a matter of debate.
The fact that playing with significant skill can turn it into the only +EV game in the casino makes it different from ALL other casino games.
Games such as slots, craps and roulette have virtually no skill (a betting system is not the same as playing the game with skill). Games like blackjack have some skill, but it is never enough to overcome the math that gives the house the edge.
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Error Alert!
The amount of luck vs. skill in poker is not really up for debate. The bounds of how well someone can run over a long period in various games are pretty well explored, as is the expected variance average winners encounter. Much of this info is in 2+2 books if you're curious.
And there are at least 2 other beatable games in the average casino - +EV blackjack is everywhere (the difficulty is to get them to let you keep playing) and the sportsbook is an obvious one as numerous people have proven they can beat it over the long haul. The racebook is potentially vulnerable as well.
Roulette has been legally beaten in the past, but the laws have since changed. It might be possible to do again in the future if you could find a person with the rather bizarre talent for accurately estimating embedding theorem predictors in their head. That would be a pretty special find though.
You are correct about craps and slots, although there are definitely slots that can be beaten when comps are factored in.
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