Should They Call it Online Poker Gambling?

Should they call it online poker gambling?

It looks like an animated cartoon movie set when you’re logged in and playing, but unless you’re sitting at a free table, you might be participating in online poker gambling. But is it really gambling? You decide.

When compared to other online and physical casino games likes slots, roulette and craps, or considering the lotteries run by various government agencies and the bingo games played in church halls around the country, playing poker doesn’t seem as much like gambling as it does a game of skill where money is the prize. Not everyone agrees, however, so it’s up to you to decide.

There are other casino games that require skill to play. Blackjack and Baccarat are two that come to mind. And then there’s sports betting, of course, where the real skill required is knowing enough about the game, and the team, to be able to make an informed best guess as to who is going to come up the winner. But it’s mostly luck at best.

Online poker gambling is one of the very few games where the house, or casino, doesn’t hold the better odds and it really is every player for himself. The game of blackjack comes with a built-in 10% advantage for the house, and slot machines can give the house as much as a 12% advantage. Craps can have as much as a whopping 16.7% advantage for the house. Now winning one of those games is gambling, don’t you think?

The only money that the casino takes in from players participating in online poker gambling is the rake, for regular games, or the tournament fee. All the other money ends up distributed to the players in the form of winnings.

And while it’s difficult to come out a winner when you’re up against stacked odds in those other casino games. A good poker player can offset the rake with superior playing skills and leave the table with more than the casino took in.

Poker is more than just good luck. Sure, you’ll see some hands played where the worst player at the table raked in all the chips because he was too stupid to fold when he should have and ended up getting dealt a winning hand, but it doesn’t happen often.

Yes, some people say it’s a game of skill, and some call it online poker gambling.