Poker is a beautiful game of cards played worldwide both recreationally and professionally. Celebrated for its skill, strategy, thrill, and risk-taking, this game is often glamorized through thrilling-high stakes tournaments, and lavish lifestyles and gripping rags-to-riches tales, which make it more fascinating. But beneath the surface, the game has a hidden dark side that many players, especially newcomers, fail to acknowledge. Although a legitimate game of skill and a career path for many, poker also has its drawbacks.
Let us delve into when the game becomes bad for you.
Poker Addiction: When the Game Becomes a Trap For You
Like many other mind sports out there, poker can lead to addiction and affect your financial standing. What starts as a hobby can turn into addictive behaviour, which is characterized by your inability to control your impulses, chase losses, increase bets and time. Individuals who develop poker addiction may lead you to losing money, going bankrupt, having relationship problems and developing stress, tension and anxiety.
Individuals suffering from poker addiction exhibit the following signs:
- Playing the game longer than intended
- Neglecting responsibilities and priorities for poker
- Concealing the amount lost or laying about playing habits
- Increasing time and amount to recover or chases losses
- Experiencing mood swings during or after poker sessions
- Withdrawing from social activities, family, friends and relatives
Being Card Dead: When The Game Leads To Frustration
One of the most frustrating things to happen in poker being “card dead”. While it is the part of the variance, receiving poor hands consistently for an extended period or long stretches can significantly impact your game. Bad hands make it difficult for you to win hands, forcing you to fold and lose small pots. Folding consistently encourages your opponents to play more aggressively against you. It leads to frustration and staying focused, impacting player’s confidence and decision-making during the game.
Here are some of the common impacts of being card dead:
- Leads to frustration, mood swings and tilt
- Results in the loss of motivation and enjoyment
- Reducing winning potency due to consistent folding
- Leading opponents to play more aggressively against you
Stress, Anxiety & Depression: When The Game Impacts Mental Health
Poker is thrilling but a mentally demanding game. The frustrations, the swings, the pressure, the financial uncertainty – the game can cause it all.
Individuals with poker addiction can experience mental issues like:
- Frustration and stress due to variance in the game
- Anxiety around poor results and future performance
- Depression due to prolonged downswings or tilt in poker
- Loneliness and detachment from life due to playing in solitude
Time Management & Priorities In Life Take A Hit
The grind of poker is both hectic and tiring. As a poker player, you have to devout long hours to the grind. Sometimes, you lose track of time, skip your meals, miss key family events (especially when traveling for poker) as mentioned by Zarvan Tumboli in one of our interviews with him. Here
Here are poker’s impacts on time and priorities:
- Leads to lack of sleep or disrupted sleep schedules
- Results in low productivity in some other areas of life
- Leads to neglected personal relationships and hobbies
Negative Effects On Your Physical Health
Long and tiring grinds, erratic sleep, and poor eating habits are not uncommon in the world of poker. On top of it, the sedentary lifestyle – they all lead to declining physical health. Common health issues include:
- Eye strain and headaches from screens
- Back pain due to poor posture and long sitting
- Weight gain due to inactivity or lack of exercise
- Poor nutrition due to skipped meals
Only a few players in the world are able to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
Cheating & Ethical Issues In The World Of Poker
Despite the rules in place for fairness and integrity of the game, we have heard many tales of disputes, scandals and unethical practices in the world of poker. Examples of cheating and unethical behaviour include:
- Collusion among players to turn outcomes in their favour
- The use of bots on online platforms to gain undue advantage
- The use of solvers being used in real-time to make “perfect” plays
These unethical practices not only ruin games but also impact other players’ game, thus impacting the trust in the poker community.
Unresolved Disputes Over Player Funds
A very common and recurring issue in the online poker industry is the lack of clear regulation with regard to player funds. Stories of players not being able to access funds, being locked out of accounts or their funds being frozen without clear explanation are not uncommon in poker.
Some common disputes we come across include:
- Inadequate customer support from platforms
- Unjust account bans/suspensions
- Delayed or denied withdrawals
- Unpaid wages or bonuses
Poker – A Game of Skill With Potential Downsides
Without a doubt, poker is a game of skill and strategy but it can have both positive and negative impact depending on how you engage with the game. While it can be an enjoyable and profitable activity, it also comes with risks that players, especially aspiring pros, should not neglect. From addition to financial troubles, health issues and cheating scandals, it has its downsides that can impact even the most experienced players.
Is poker REALLY bad for you?
Not at all. But it can be bad if you are not aware of potential risks and do not engage in the game responsibly. Play the game responsibly, set time and spending limits and avoid excessive play in order to protect your health and finances. Good luck at the felts!
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