[Gonso]

Typical dictionary entry for gambling:

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Gambling:

v.intr.
1. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
2. To play a game of chance for stakes.
3. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
4. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.
n.
1. A bet, wager, or other gambling venture.
2. An act or undertaking of uncertain outcome; a risk: I took a gamble that stock prices would rise.

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Discussion board proposals and opinions about what people really mean when they say gambling/people’s opinion of the true definition of gambling:

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However, when lay people discuss whether poker is gambling, they're obviously not talking about the same definition;

we have to be careful what we allow them to call "gambling", and be clear about how they are defining it

You should ask them to define it before answering their question.

Thats a language question.

We should really define what "gambling" means

My personal opinion is "gambling" is

So by your definition,

that poker is gambling under my definition

my humbly proposed defintion.

The reason I like my defintion is

Using this definition

the New Hamsphire Criminal Law definition of gambling

the strict sense of the definition of gambling

I don't think what they are doing is gambling

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If someone were to say, "the definition of 'gambling' means the exact same as 'talking on a cell phone'. They wouldn't be expressing an opinion, they would be incorrect.

When you are wagering on an uncertain event, you are gambling. There is no certainty, even for the top players (many of whom have had extended losing streaks). You can play poker without wagering, and that would not be gambling.