[NYplayer]

My playing poker contributes to society because I can earn the same amount of money in less time than I would at another job. Therefore I have X more hours per week. i can spend those hours with my family, doing social work, etc.

People have said that what a poker player does in his extra time may contribute but that the poker itself doesn't. Well i would argue that since playing poker gives me more time then it contributes to society because I am a slice of society and having more hours to put towards whatever i decide is valuable to me is an increase in productivity.