kids and poker

[schupick012cubs 0]

I like how parents tell kids not to gamble but in the 2 years i've been in speech and debate a have seen more money switch hands than anywhere else. For instance, this weekend in Boca Raton Florida during the break for round 5 i saw someone win a 50 dollar pot and then on the other side of the cafeteria i saw a 100 dollar pot that is unreal and its just not in florida. In iowa i saw 30 or 40 dollar pots being lost at dowling and many more tournements. Someone has to put a stop to this not the overall gambling but the magnitude of what is going on.

[hawsdog 0]

for being a debater, you sure don't get your point across very well. What's your point? You also gave us no context. The best debater I've ever met from Iowa was Roger Stetson.

[murphy77 0]

I highly doubt they were playing with cash in school, they probably never pay eachother.

[bigkg 0]

I totally disagree, i really dont think there is anything wrong with teens playing poker. I am 16, and i play poker almost three times a week, i play for about $10-20 everytime, yes i do see instances where i also think it gets out of hand. Sometimes i might see kids my age lose $500-$800 dollars in poker, which is way to much for somebody my age. On the other hand i also see kids using the $20 dollars that i would use on poker in order to purchase alcohol or drugs. With that being said, i think poker is a much better alternative for teens over drugs and alcohol. Where i live, losing $10 dollars is just as much as it would cost to go see a movie, not to mention the food. I dont think that this is going to be stopped anytime soon nor do i think it should be stopped.

[Smasharoo 0]

Who cares if kids blow their allowance on poker instead of hanging out at a mall or whatever.When they're stealing money to play, then there's a problem.

[schupick012cubs 0]

When you lose 500-800 dollars you have a problem and there is no way that all that money is yours so you would have to get it somewhere. And as the last poster said when you steal you have a problem and now we have a problem. Its something that should be stopped if it over 10 dollars any more and you are treading in uneven ground.

[Footballguru 0]

:roll: gimme a fkin break. i would venture a guess that millions of kids are playing poker in usa at least once a month, if not 10x per month. u think their parents would rather have em at home in the basement, or at some club getting drunk and high.

[Smasharoo 0]

When you lose 500-800 dollars you have a problem and there is no way that all that money is yours so you would have to get it somewhere. And as the last poster said when you steal you have a problem and now we have a problem. Its something that should be stopped if it over 10 dollars any more and you are treading in uneven ground.Depends on how much money the kids have to spend.If they have 1000 a month to spend, then lossing 800 is no big deal.If they have 2 a month to spend, 10 is a big deal.It's illegal for minors to gamle evevryhere. Start narcing if you are so concerned about it, I guess. The laws are allready there.

[bigkg 0]

schupick012cubs , believe it or not that 500-800 is all theirs, teens can have jobs. I myslef have a job and that is where most of my money comes from. Most of the kids that lose a lot are either rich and get money from their parents or some are just good, i know a kid, who graduated this past year that once won a tourney in which he receieved 4500 dollars for winning, which is a ton for money for any teenager. I will admit this, some kids i have met have stolen money to play poker and i agree that is a problem but some of the kids its all theirs, and again most kids only play from 5-30, so its not that big of a deal.

[bdluss 0]

I work as a teacher in high school, I must admit I am scared for most of these kids futures. I know of one kid who built up an online account over 2k only to lose it all in 2 weeks. Kids are playing poker and gambling much much more than what most parents are willing to admit, instead turning a blind eye to it. On a side note, when I do hear them talk about their poker playing and stakes it makes me grin at the future as in 3-4 years they will be eagarly sitting down in the casino or online so I can take there $.

[Smasharoo 0]

What's to worry about.They're doing a lot of work for us, the home game heros (see me slide the Tilt refrence in there!!) who consolidate the money from the pools of amazingly bad players save us a lot of time by providing easy access to a big chunk of it.

[Socrates 0]

This all stems from the popularity of poker. Before the WSOP was on every hour parents would have punished their kids for gambling on anything. It has now become socially accpetable (to play poker for money at least) at this time and there is some truth to the other choices that kids could be opting for. With that said, there are several outcomes that can occur with teenagers.1. They lose interest as soon as the fad is over (same for adults that just started playing in the last few years)2. They get in over their heads and either owe someone money or they start stealing / selling off almost anything for $ to play - parents will definately notice this3. They go to college, run up a credit card or two of their parents and their playing days are over4. They go to college and run up there own credit cards and then they can grind it out if they choose to pay those off or dig their hole deeperThere are a ton more, but it all comes down to this. The choice is their's - if they want to play that's fine. They, as well as you and I, will have to live with the consequesnces of the outcome. I personally don't believe that poker is any more of a gamble then paying to enter a golf, bowling, disc golf, moutain biking, running race or any other activity which provides monetary prizes for placing in a skilled event. No matter how good you are, someone is better or you'll be unlucky once in a while. None of the activities I mentioned can be executed flawlessly everytime and neither can poker. The only thing that can be said is that they can all be won by people who put in the time to learn, practice and participate. So, would you feel better if the kids we're using their money to enter a weekly bowling event that is dominated by a more experienced group of people or paying to enter a soccer tournament in which they were underdogs?

[Smasharoo 0]

1. They lose interest as soon as the fad is over (same for adults that just started playing in the last few years)2. They get in over their heads and either owe someone money or they start stealing / selling off almost anything for $ to play - parents will definately notice this3. They go to college, run up a credit card or two of their parents and their playing days are over4. They go to college and run up there own credit cards and then they can grind it out if they choose to pay those off or dig their hole deeper 5. They're all about equally bad and play each other and mostly break even.You know, reality.

[Patman 0]

Iam 15, and play poker 2-3 times a week in home games. I started off by losing around 300$ over the course of 3-4 months, but recently I have made it all back and then some. Iam probably up 200$ or so playing .25-50 and Ive gotton to the point where I win everytime i play with my friends. Ever since I started taking poker seriously and trying to improve my game (mostly by reading the Theory of Poker by Skalansky) I have been dominant in these games. I think friendly home games with friends arent a problem, but those teens who play online or with strangers at higher stakes could be getting in trouble. Although I am probably being a hypocrite because I would do anything to play poker online for cash.

[schupick012cubs 0]

I dont agree with the poster who siad that it is the same a any other skilled event you pay money to enter. In those you know how much you will lose and its not like you will lose to much at one time.Also Another person said that parents would notice kids selling thing. Not so, some parents just want to believe that nothing is wrong. Thats somthing that parents need to stop slow down and relieze whats gong on.Last, Most kids dont made 500-800 dollars a month when they are still in high school. And poker is one of those fads that is showing little signs of slowing down.

[The Future 0]

I really wish I could have found more action when I was a teenager... at the tables of course :wink: I played in one poker game back in the late 90's when I was 17 or 18 and the cash flying around was sickening for kids our age. I came to the game with $21 in my pocket. There was about 7-8 players, playing anthing from 5 card draw to GUTS to Acey-Deucy. Let's just say the betting got way out of hand. We didn't have chips, so it was all cash on the table. Somehow, the Acey-Deucy pot got up to $960! The pot kept getting double and doubled as even an A-2 spread was landing an A or a 2. Three guys had to go to the ATM twice that night to make max withdrawals (one before midnight, one other after). My buddy who held the game was one of them, however, he took enough of the $960 pot to break even. One guy, and I'm not even remotely making any of this up, was stuck at the end of the night for $1,200! He was probably 22 years old and suppose to attend Gambler's Annonymous the next day, but I heard that he skipped his meeting and went straight to the craps table at a local casino and got even. I walked out the door with $420 in my pocket, and even lent my friend $70 on a GUTS hand where he hand a AK of hearts and lost to a dealer called "69 automatic winner". So my point is, aside from sharing my 1st and favorite poker story, I don't think that teenagers are gambling SO much more or higher these days, I just think it gets talked about a lot more because poker is so mainstream. I'm sure there are still teenagers like I was who can't find any games and have money to burn. But maybe not.Jason

[tmiesen359 0]

smash, i believe you are wrong..... you said that it is illegal for minors to play poker anywhere, but i have seen numerous instances of law where minors are equally able to play as adults are as long as the stakes aren't getting too high...... at least that is how it is in Minnesotaim 17 and i play poker 2-3 times a week, but only on weekends during the school week. This is by far a better thing to do than go spend 20 on drugs or alcohol, and most of our parents aren't even bothered by it. It's generally not considered a problem. The most i've ever seen someone stuck in a day was around 200, and they could definitely afford it. As for the "they are all equally bad" idea someone threw up (probably smash.... dont see too many nice things come outta that guy's posts, and also don't take advice from someone whos avatar is a beatnik cat). This is definitely not true. I would argue that my grade (class of 06) could take on quite a few other ages. There is a group of us who really seem to know what we are doing and make quite a bit of money off of our own fish. I've read many books about poker and they really do help and i would consider myself average to better than average on most occasions. Haven't been able to go to the casino yet, that is probably a bigger test though

[Guest XXEddie]

Let the kids play...If they lose their OWN money thats their OWN problem. If they wanna spend their lunch money on a .25/.50 holdem game in the corner of the lunch room...Let them learn a lesson the hard way

[jonnyz 0]

Its all the parents fault, if they would do their job and teach their kids how to play poker properly from a young age they wouldn't be losing their money!just kidding, sorta. I have a baby girl due in the spring and I have already started reading poker books to her. Who knows maybe she will pick something up and its a good way for my wife to fall asleep.Also, lets put this into perspective, kids waste their money no matter what happens to be the latest fad on TV. I remember winning a shit load of money(probably $20 lol) when I was in grade 5 or 6 when Hagler took out Hearns in the 3rd. I also remember spending a shit load of money at the arcade and on stupid racing plates for my bmx bike. Kids will be kids, this is just a new way for them to waste money, atleast poker will reward the smarter ones.Jon

[Tritz 0]

I highly doubt they were playing with cash in school, they probably never pay eachother.

I have played cash games in school, i won 540 in study hall once.

[Footballguru 0]

All of us are equal u shud see our game-we got em all. Rocks, maniacs, tight aggresive, calling stations, u name it we got it 3 of us have traveled into online play. 2 of us are up a relatively signifiact amount, and one is down about 100-200. I always thought it would be funny if a real adult poker player sat in our game, i would like to see how they would fare.and puhleez shut up about kids wasting their money on poker. who fkign cares, wasting money on poker should be the least of parents concerns :evil:

[bigkg 0]

"I have played cash games in school, i won 540 in study hall once"Really? that's a lot. my study hall sucks, the kids are afraid to bet like 2 dollars

[SLTS 0]

"I have played cash games in school, i won 540 in study hall once"Really? that's a lot. my study hall sucks, the kids are afraid to bet like 2 dollars

hell I wouldn't bet you a nickle. Gambling on school grounds is subject to expension and law innvolvment.

[bigkg 0]

"bigkg wrote: "I have played cash games in school, i won 540 in study hall once" Really? that's a lot. my study hall sucks, the kids are afraid to bet like 2 dollars hell I wouldn't bet you a nickle. Gambling on school grounds is subject to expension and law innvolvment."Very true...but none of the teachers care...at all. Oh yea, i've heard of suspension and expulsion, but expension, that's a new one.

[ldudeus 0]

yea im surprised there arent more kids playing poker in my lunch roomi have a hard time finding a game for once a week...of cource if i had a car i would play every day but i dont so thats the end of that story.i think that just as long as we arent doing anything illegeal to GET the money and it is our own, we should be able to waste it on anything we want Better lose 40 dollars in poker than spend it on buying weed