Is poker gambling?

[Rosencrantz1]

It is a mistake to think that poker isn't gambling.

Why do you think gambling and skill are mutually exclusive?

Poker is ABSOLUTELY gambling. For everyone. Always. But just because it's gambling doesn't mean that there isn't skill, or that a skillful player can't be a consistent winner. There are many gambling games that involve far less skill -- or no skill. Poker, on the other hand, involves a high level of skill. But this doesn't mean that luck isn't part of the equation and it doesn't mean that it isn't gambling.


A skillful player will make many, many +EV moves while playing poker. Sometimes, he will still lose pots that he is favored to win -- bad luck. But, on average, over the long term, a +EV move will make him money.