editor
Administrator   Posts: 23 Registered: 2/12/2002 Status: Offline
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 posted on 7/4/2003 at 20:23 |
What do you think about gambling and pool? Does it hurt the game, help it,
or not matter much either way?
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twiztid_cue
Junior Member  Posts: 2 Registered: 6/5/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 6/5/2003 at 22:51 |
I really dont think it would matter much either way. Take this example. I
go to the local pool hall at least 3 times a week for around 3 hours at the
least. 70% of the time i am there there is older players past their 50's
and some past their 60's playing for money. in that case i cant see it
hurting the game due to it gives them something to do. and there could be
worse things they are doing with that money. But in all reality i dont see
it hurting even at a tourny. You have to pay to get in right? so right
there you are taking a gamble at weather or not your going to win anything
back. So i dont think it hurts the game in any way.
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sneaky_pete
Junior Member Posts: 2 Registered: 11/6/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 11/6/2003 at 12:16 |
As it stands, there is not enough money in pool to sustain most of those
commited to the game. You can't be a professional pool player and work
part-time at McDonalds. Until the sport gets the attention from commercial
sponsors, who would endow the sport with the capital to facilitate the up
and comming generation as well as support the current legacy of
championship players, gambling is just a necessity.
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BigDave
Junior Member Posts: 4 Registered: 19/4/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 16/6/2003 at 23:43 |
Fair play and gambling are fine in my opinion, most people enjoy a "punt"
or bet, and it makes a game more interesting... Nobody forces you to gamble
and it's not compulsory!
Big money games between the pro's are exciting and wild stories of "must
win" games add colour to the history of the game.
Unfortunately, where ever there is money, there is cheating, stealing,
hustling... Whatever you call it, this has probably deterred more people
from playing pool than any other single aspect! That's the problem!!!
IMHO.
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parr8322
Junior Member Posts: 6 Registered: 16/9/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 17/9/2003 at 08:35 |
quote:
What do you think about
gambling and pool? Does it hurt the game, help it, or not matter much
either way?
sneakypete, good
answer, bigdave, when i was a kid, a player told me. that if we got
arrested they would chg me with gambling and him for stealing. cause he
wasnt gambling ...anytime you have a pool tournament and more than 1 person
puts money up in a jackpot. that s not gambling that is organized
gambling... we need to get it better organized and get the crooks out of it
cause they are stealing all the money out of the tournaments and away from
the players. and with out the players there would be no pool. and until
people realized with out the players there would not be any pool
tournaments...
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kidpasta420
Senior Member Posts: 23 Registered: 10/11/2003 Status: Offline
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 posted on 10/11/2003 at 03:37 |
Pool for me is fun.When you put money in the picture it isn't fun
anymore....It's work.
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jjinfla
Member  Posts: 12 Registered: 4/6/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 10/11/2003 at 04:04 |
Is there really that much gambling involved in pool? I hear of a few
gambling matches every now and again but most of them are highly
exagerated, or just plain made up.
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SallyP
Senior Member Posts: 25 Registered: 4/4/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 10/11/2003 at 05:03 |
I think that there is a fair amount, but it depends on where you're
looking. At big tournaments, of course there's going to be a lot of
gambling going on, and at smaller events too. But in the course of your
average day at the PH, there's probably not a lot of players going off for
huge sums.
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CACREASY
Junior Member Posts: 9 Registered: 11/11/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 11/11/2003 at 19:57 |
A player has their choice whether to gamble or not. We usually play for
small change at the pool hall that I frequent. Some of the guys gamble on
the outcome, and some do not. Some of the wagers are for more if the
players are of a higher caliber.
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scripto
Junior Member Posts: 9 Registered: 10/11/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 12/11/2003 at 01:13 |
I think gambling is fine as long as you know your opponent, and know that
it is for the interest of the game. I have seen many people come into a
poolhall and think there is easy money and lose, and want to fight instead
of pay up.
If you don't have the money to lose, don't bet. Friendly betting is a good
way to spark interest and still have a good time.
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Runarak
Junior Member Posts: 7 Registered: 10/11/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 12/11/2003 at 16:09 |
I think that many outsiders look at gambling and "hustling' in the same
light. Gambling perse is not detrimental to the sport but the hustlers of
yesterday are still making a negative impact on the image of the sport.
My opinion.. ____________________
Christian Poolplayer
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doomcue
Junior Member Posts: 2 Registered: 11/11/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 12/11/2003 at 19:13 |
I see no problem with gambling in pool, but I'm a pool player and I gamble.
The problem is the PERCEPTION of gambling and pool by non-players, ie, the
general public. Mention pool to Joe Shmoe, and he'll *** ume that pool
players are all drinking, smoking, cussing, gambling degenerates who hustle
kids and grandmothers for money. To some extent, that's true for pool, but
no more than any other "occupation," past-time, or other walk-of-life.
I've seen hustlers who play golf, cards, basketball, softball, checkers,
chess, etc. I've seen hustlers who try to take money from churches, the
general public, Wal-Mart, and the elderly. And I know some lawyers, the
biggest hustlers on the planet!  Is gambling more
rampant in pool than those other things? I don't think so, but since I'm a
player, my opinion doesn't mean a lot. I think our sport gets a bad rap
because of the non-reality created by movies like "The Hustler," "The Color
of Money," and most recently, "Poolhall Junkies." Joe Shmoe sees those
movies and think they are the reality of pool, when in fact, those type of
players make up an extremely small part of our sport. The fact is that
gambling is ingrained in our sport, players will always gamble. So will
golfers, lawyers, etc. I don't see a problem with that, but I do have a
problem with people who think gambling is bad if pool players do it, but
it's OK if it's Tiger Woods betting on fairways hit. For some reason, it's
OK for Jordan and Tiger to bet, but not for pool players. That, I have
problem with. Gambling is gambling, it shouldn't matter who the person is
or what the game is, but for some reason, it's more negative when ***
ociated with pool. Personally, I feel gambling has its place in pool.
It's a good way to learn, and it's a good way to test ability, as well as a
way to earn some jellybeans. Just like all other gambling, though, some
self-control has to be exercised. It's very easy to become addicted to
gambling.
All that being said, I don't think reporting on gambling in pool is a good
idea. It's true that for those of us who play, a lot of us are interested
in those things. However, in order for pool to grow, we have to debunk the
stereotype Joe Shmoe has pictured in his mind. That will never happen as
long as we glorify the gambling aspect of pool, which is what reporting on
it does, regardless of the intent of the writer. Reporting on gambling
simply reinforces the sterotype of pool, which is that we're drinking,
smoking, cussing, gambling degenerates who hustle kids and grandmothers for
money. I'm not that kind of player, and I don't want non-players thinking
that's what I am, but I've met enough people who *** ume that I am as soon
as they find out I play pool. The first question they usually ask is, "Are
you a hustler?" They've *** ociated hustling and gambling with all pool
players. That needs to stop, and one way for it to end is for us to stop
projecting images and words which glorify gambling.
BTW, I think something needs to be fixed in the "dirty words detector." I
should be able to post words like *** ume and *** ociated without having
the "ass" part starred out.
-djb
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druid
Member Posts: 15 Registered: 12/11/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 12/11/2003 at 20:06 |
Gambling reduces the "sport" of billiards to the bar game most people seem
to think it is. You don't see bowling or golf or olympic players gambling
(at least that's not the public perception/expectation). That's why the
color of money to me really hurt the game IN THE LONG RUN.
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frankglenn
Senior Member Posts: 24 Registered: 19/5/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 16/11/2003 at 06:12 |
People gamble at all kind of things. Pool is just one of them. I don't
think it matters, and it may be part of the draw. A high stakes tounament
like the poker tounaments with lots of little entry level tounaments
leading up to the big one at the end may be just what pool needs.
[Edited on 30/11/2003 by frankglenn] ____________________
Frank Glenn
Richmond, Va.
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kevinkensick
Member Posts: 17 Registered: 10/11/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 18/11/2003 at 06:53 |
Gambling between a few friends is cool as long as both can afford to lose
what they are betting and if no one gets really angry or hurt if they lose.
In my pool hall there is this old guy that would bet his food and rent
money against players that he had no reason betting against even though he
was spotted quite generously at times and would occasionally win.Whether he
won or lost , the look of intense stress was allways written all over his
face.Thats when gambling isn't cool.Is it really worth an ulcer or heart
attack?Also I don't take to kindly to hustlers as they give our game a bad
image.If you can afford to lose and can handle losing, by all means Gamble
away.
ps. Don't believe the bull that you have to lose a lot of money to better
players to get better as pool player. Yes, playing better players will
improve your game however I've had no problems playing them for table or
when gambling keeping the stakes down and getting a decent spot.Playing in
tournaments brings me the pleasure and pressure that I need to improve my
game.Also some good constuctive practice drills help immensley as well.
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larrynj
Junior Member Posts: 5 Registered: 27/11/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 27/11/2003 at 21:29 |
if it gives the old people something to do, then it must be a good thing.
there's so many of them in atlantic city that would be better off playing
pool and hustling a few bucks for some viagra.
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