Is online poker addiction possible? This controversial issue has long been debated in the poker community and beyond. Once again, the topic was raised by the English gambling commission, which announced the serious gambling addiction of primary and secondary school students.
Poker is often referred to as gambling (although we know perfectly well that this is a game of skill), so the topic is quite relevant. We propose to delve into the essence of the issue and find out whether addiction to online poker is possible and how dangerous it is.
Research on online poker addiction
Before we start to develop the topic of addiction to the game of poker, let us turn to one very interesting research conducted by British scientists. So, ministers of science came to the conclusion that games in land-based establishments are much more addictive than games in online varieties of such establishments. In this case, the research was carried out in relation to casino game lovers.
According to the results of their research, it became known that only a quarter of new visitors to online casinos developed gambling addiction. The rest of the people turned out to be subject to gambling addiction long before their first visit to the online casino. Members of the British Committee came to a similar conclusion back in 2007. At that time, they conducted a study on the possible impact of online casino advertising. In particular, it was found that audiovisual advertising did not contribute to an increase in the number of citizens with gambling addiction. Employees of the Research University of Buffalo contributed to the study of the issue. Scientists have found that citizens living near gambling establishments are more prone to gambling than users who occasionally take part in online gambling. As a result of the conducted research, it was stated that only a few were susceptible to gambling addiction due to online casinos. Does this apply to online poker? To a certain extent, unambiguously applicable.
You can consider this issue from a slightly different angle. Looking at blogs and interviews of successful players, we see that many of them are fanatically passionate about the game and even partly subject to addiction to it.
Some people believe that being successful in poker requires total immersion in the gameplay. It is worth paying tribute to professional players, because their victories were preceded by significant time and intellectual costs, and the game itself is a serious mental and moral burden. Fully immersed in the gameplay, the player multiplies his chances of success and goal achievement.
The negative impact of addiction
And there is a downside to this medal, as keen players are often exposed to the following negative influences:
1. Eating disorders
This applies to any exciting activity, plunging into which, a person simply forgets about the need to eat. Poker players suffer from this too. This is especially true for players in multi-table tournaments, as well as cash players who do not want to leave the table due to the presence of a large fish. When such players remember food, in most cases they just have a snack on the fly and rush to continue grinding. You should not experiment so much on your own health, because it is fraught with negative consequences. And to refer to poker terminology, it will be in the long run.
2. Sleep disorders
This problem is faced by most poker players, especially those who love to take part in tournaments, because the sweetest and most interesting of them begin in the evening and last until 10:00. There is no need to once again focus on the importance of sleep for the human body, in particular, for the full functioning of the brain. Systematic lack of sleep leads to a breakdown and depression, and this is clearly not what players should strive for. Do not let your passion for the game become an obstacle to relaxation.
3. Stress and irritability
A person prone to gambling has thoughts of playing, even when he is not directly involved in the game process. This interferes with normal communication with others, and serves as a reason for resentment and misunderstanding on their part. Daily duties and errands that distract from the game irritate the gambler. Such a player will ignore and not remember important information, of course, if it does not concern the game. It is necessary to draw a line between the game and everyday life, learn to leave down streams, troubles, beats and losses at the gaming table.
4. Disorientation in space and time
A person who is systematically fond of playing poker undergoes certain changes in consciousness, and the clarity of thought decreases. The player feels the time differently: he can spend a working day playing the game, being sure that not even two hours have passed. Since all thoughts are concentrated on the game, the player can return to the gameplay even in a dream or lead it into your imagination. Such conditions are aggravated after gains or experienced failures.
Game hangover
After many hours of grinding, a state similar to a hangover may occur, but with more tangible manifestations. Can you imagine the state of a player getting up from the table after a 15-hour session? He feels more than just tired. Should I cite as examples red eyes, stoop and poor coordination of movements? Now let’s add a horse dose of coffee and energy drinks to that. The player will not only feel “rumpled on the inside”, but also look the same on the outside. If in the reflection of the mirror you see yourself in a similar way, then this is a wake-up call and it’s time to take action. In some cases, the best time-out option will be voluntary blocking by the user (self-exclusion for a while). Most poker rooms give players the opportunity to “take a vacation” to improve their health and streamline their thoughts.
Everything must be in balance
The key is hidden in the balance, which means that the game should not be overused. Balance should be present not only in the ranges at the tables, but also outside the gaming tables. The player must be able to concentrate on the gameplay, but at the same time, not lose vigilance, feel the edge and be able to stop in time. In order not to burn out and avoid depressive states against the background of a streak of failures in the game, it is worth establishing a balance in life. Choose another exciting activity for yourself or devote yourself to completing any social or social task. This will relieve mental stress, balance life and not turn poker into the so-called Achilles’ heel.
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