Pearls of Wisdom Easy to Find Among Gamblers

There is an inherent wisdom in the words of the world’s most successful gamblers and poker players.

Gamblers have brains that are programmed differently than the regular Joe, relying on their life experiences, wit and unconventionality to get them through the day and succeed in such harsh waters.

Here are six of my favorite pearls of wisdom, along with the possible logic behind these select famous (at least in gambling circles anyway) words.

“There is more to poker than life.” — Tom McEvoy, 1983 World Series of Poker champion

Probable interpretation: A play on words off the popular “There is more to life than (insert topic here.)” Poker is a constant game without an end. Its limits are human, which means the game is unfortunately over when things such as sleep, a cousin’s wedding day and that troublesome day job get in the way from time on the felt.

“I guess if there were no luck involved, I’d win every one.” — Phil Hellmuth, poker Hall of Famer

Probable interpretation: The 11-time World Series of Poker champion believes he is the best no-limit Hold ’Em player on the planet, especially when it comes to tournament play. Even though poker is a skill game, luck has an unavoidable presence.

“What good is money if you can’t bet with it?” — Jack Strauss or Johnny Moss, poker Hall of Famers

Probable interpretation: It’s unclear which of these two late poker legends said it first, but both played the game according to this commandment. Elite poker players are able to distance themselves from the value of the dollar. If they didn’t, they would never have the killer instinct needed to bet a sum that could purchase a new home or card on a single hand of play. Keep in mind that Moss and Strauss also experienced tremendous swings from millionaires to glorified beggers.

“In limit poker, you are shooting at a target. In no-limit, the target comes alive and shoots back at you.” — Crandell Addington, poker Hall of Famer

Probable interpretation: Provided you know the basics of the game, limit poker is a relatively safe proposition. All it takes to call down an opponent or chase a draw is a single bet. This isn’t the case in no-limit, where an opponent can take everything in a single hand.

“The guy that invented gambling was bright. The man that invented chips was a genius.” — Julius “Big Julie” Weintraub, legendary Las Vegas junket organizer

Probable interpretation: Historically, gamblers tend to pucker up when the bets are made with real money. Replace the cash with a few innocent clay chips, and the games get looser. Chips also allow casinos to watch the money more carefully, since the cash is banked and the chips have zero value outside the walls of the establishment. Chips also make tournaments like the World Series of Poker possible. The weight of $10 million in cash is enough to buckle a table and take up every square inch of the felt.

“Gambling money has no home.” — Dan at the bar ... met him last week

Probable interpretation: Gambling winnings are destined to stay within that particular economy. If you win a sports bet or have a big poker night, that money only will be used to make a bigger bet the next time. It’s rarely used elsewhere.

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W

Walking Sticks - A pair of sevens.

Wild Card - A card that can be played as any value.

Worst Hand - A losing hand.

WSOP - World Series of Poker.

WSOP zu Re-beginnen mit einem Phil Ivey Endorsement

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Casinos Help Out Gambling Addicts

That last word is not usually mentioned in gambling circles, to be honest. It is one of those tags that society in general uses to label some people and to be frank, sometimes it is overused, giving card games such as poker a bad name. Yet the reality remains. There are people who get hooked too much and cannot control themselves, leading to the erosion of his relationships and life in general.

Not all is lost, though. In fact, at the Viejas Indian Reservation, there is good news for all involved. A group of addiction counselors were trained on the dangers of compulsive gambling. This was part of a movement that casino operators are starting – to help those who are addicted to gambling. Interesting, no?

According to Mark Sauer of SignonSanDiego:

"We don't deny there is a problem," said Bobby Barrett, incoming tribal chairman of Viejas, chairman of the California Tribal Business Alliance and a certified gambling counselor.

"We are concerned with the health and safety of the people in our casinos, and with the risk to people within our own tribal communities."

Self-help, 12-step programs have mushroomed. There were 10 Gamblers Anonymous meetings a week in San Diego County five years ago; today there are 35.

The number of certified counselors who offer the therapy they say is needed to straighten out a pathological gambler is shockingly low.

"I'm the only one I know of actually doing treatment in the county," said therapist Suzanne Graupner Pike, who has treated troubled gamblers in Vista since 2003. "There's no money in it."

The reason for that, Pike said, is the "impulse-control disorder associated with problem gambling is not considered a disease, like alcohol or drug abuse, and hardly any insurance companies cover it."

And the patients, Pike added wryly, have no money left.

Most gamblers with serious or severe problems, who make up about 4 percent of California adults, according to the state study, have related psychological problems, such as depression, which are covered by insurance, Pike said.

"Society needs to realize we have a medical crisis (with problem gambling), and there should be federal, state and local funds available for education and treatment, just as with other addictions," she said.

Barrett said the state's fledgling Office of Problem and Pathological Gambling has a $3 million annual budget. He said that is not nearly enough, noting, "All of that funding comes from California gaming tribes."

Lefkowitz said there are two basic types of problem gamblers: those who thrive on action, who tend to be men; and those who gamble to escape, generally women.

Now I am not saying I am biased, but it never occurred to me that women would be a great part of this gambling addiction problem! I guess it is a good thing, what they are doing in California. It is just wishful thinking on my part, I guess, that this sort of thing should never have happened in the beginning. Of course, there are some things we cannot control. Still, activities like this one brings hope to those who need it.

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