[KRPI2k05]

Does it contribute to society? Probably not.

But who cares? Most people who ask me how playing poker contributes are generally doing everything they can to maximise the money they make from benefits and dodge taxes anyway.

"Oh I work as a bank clerk and make a [censored] wage and claim thousands off the state to pay for the upbringing of my four children, all of which are from different fathers, but hey, what do you contribute?"

Poker players most probably don't claim benefits like most of the working classes who do.

Maybe you are contributing by simply not taking money away from being invested in schools/healthcare etc.

When I told my mother I was playing poker, not working 9-5, and that I felt slight guilt that I didn't contribute to society (I was lying), she said "I don't care about that, most people work their jobs to get paid, not save the world".

Good point Mum.

Just my 2 cents