Are winning players addicts?

[derosnec]

Quite a few 2+2ers play 50k+ hands a month.

Yet we generally don't think of them as addicts. It's the losing players we think of as addicts.

Discuss.

[Coffee]

We're all addicted to some aspect of the game. However, the winners tend to be addicted to winning. The losers tend to be addicted to gambling. That's the difference.

[AKQJ10]

What's a generally accepted definition of addiction?

[Colonel Kataffy]

Addiction isn't a measure of how much time you spend doing something.

[BriMc]

[ QUOTE ]
We're all addicted to some aspect of the game. However, the winners tend to be addicted to winning. The losers tend to be addicted to gambling. That's the difference.

[/ QUOTE ]

Addiction is a disease that is characterized by obsessive thought, complusive action, and a totally self centered outlook on life. Addiction is also progressive: if left untreated it will continue to get worse; incurable: like cancer, it is not possible to cure addiction, an inactive addict is said to be in remission/recovery, and fatal: people who do not seek help for thier addiction ultimatly die as a direct or indirect result of the behaviors asssociated with thier disease.

[whangarei]

The term addict implies a detrimental outcome resulting from a pattern of behavior. So, a winning poker player, who sets aside enough time away from the tables for other things important in his life, is not an addict. The only place where the term addict would apply in poker is where a person keeps losing more than he can afford as recreation.

[bb88]

[ QUOTE ]
Addiction isn't a measure of how much time you spend doing something.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right. You wouldn't call someone who pushes papers 30 hours a week a paper pushing addict. Addicts play for the thrill of gambling, which often means playing outside of your bankroll and more hands/draws than you should, which will eventually make you a loser. I think there are probably some +EV addicts out there, but they are the ones who go BUSTO sooner rather than later.

[Brettster]

I'd say they play more like 100k+ hands, I play a few days a week and clear 50k hands a month.

[VarlosZ]

[ QUOTE ]
Are winning players addicts?

[/ QUOTE ]

The correct answer is: some of them are. Some, myself included, don't especially enjoy poker most of the time, and force themselves to play because the want (or need) the money. I don't think you can call those players addicts no matter how much they play.

OTOH, there are undoubtedly lots who would be wagering tons of money on sports, horse racing, blackjack, etc. if poker did not exist. I remember seeing an interview with Phil Ivey a while back in which he was asked about his gambling in general. He basically said: 'Thank God I found a game I can beat, because I love the action.' That sounds like a guy who'd be attending GA meetings in a parallel dimension.

[gamblegood]

Doyle Brunson once said I am a gambling addict but at least am good.