What is the difference between contest w/ Prizes, and Gambling?

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

You can enter writing contests were you pay $100 and attempt to win a first place prize that is either cash or scholarship or whatever.

How is this any different than a poker tournament?

[QuentinCompson]

Writing involves skill, and poker is nothing but luck, obviously.

And writing doesn't destroy teenagers' lives and family values like poker does.

Why make the writing arguement when you could make the horse-racing arguement, anyway? It's all BS.

[Kamakize]

Poker is considered a Skill in a few states.. California for one.

Horse Race Betting.. if you KNOW what you are doing.. can be Skill. since you have the stats there to understand and read.. (argument COULD be for sports as well)

But In Horse Racing if you lose, someone else gets the $$ as Parimutual pot. a % goes to the kitty, a % goes to the track a % goes to the Winner (Horse/jockey/etc) and a % goes to the OTB or palce that took the bet.

Sports you bet if you win you win, if not the house gets all the $$

[Auren]

What is difference between stockmarket and poker? Both take skill and both can be profitable if you know what you do.

What is difference between insurance and blackjack? In blackjack you bet your hand is better than dealers. In insurance you bet that your home will get robbed during time of insurance.

[Benholio]

[ QUOTE ]
What is difference between stockmarket and poker? Both take skill and both can be profitable if you know what you do.

What is difference between insurance and blackjack? In blackjack you bet your hand is better than dealers. In insurance you bet that your home will get robbed during time of insurance.

[/ QUOTE ]

Come on, insurance and blackjack?!

[Gregg777]

[yellowbastard]

I'm trying to come up with positions like this to take against people who might be in favor of the bill.

What is the reason why online poker is any different than investing in the stock market online? If I study 2+2 books and apply what I know to 5-10 on party poker and make +$20 per hour at the tables, how is this any different than me studying material on the capital markets and becoming a successful investor?

[Jeff76]

[ QUOTE ]
If I study 2+2 books and apply what I know to 5-10 on party poker and make +$20 per hour at the tables, how is this any different than me studying material on the capital markets and becoming a successful investor?

[/ QUOTE ]The argument would be that playing poker you are taking money from weaker players and offering nothing in return. You are receiving money for providing no value. With stocks, OTOH, when a stock is sold someone is always receving value for their money- the stock. This is an important distinction among people who will argue that it is unethical to take money from someone and offer nothing of value in return.

I don't hold to that viewpoint, just telling you what you're up against.

At the end of the day, I don't think it matters what clever arguments we come up with. That they carved out horseracing and lottories and left in poker makes it pretty clear this isn't about real moral ethical issues, but how people percieve poker. And the peopel the politicians are catering to view poker as a degenerate money game that destroys families and is unhealthy for our nation.

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

Can I make a website with a writing contest like I described? Does anyone have any legal information on this type of thing?

[curious123]

Sign me up K, sounds like good times.