Why does Poker have so much appeal?

Have you ever wondered why people play poker? The question may be simple but the answer is both complex and personal. There are a various reasons why people decide to play or not to play poker. Most of the times, the caliber of a player the person is as well as the limitations he sets are the reasons behind why he plays poker.
Reasons to Play Poker:

Social Rewards. This is the answer to the traditional poker games played at home. Hanging out is the reason behind why people play cards and eventually become friends over the card table. When you play poker because of this reason, choose the more fun and friendly lower stakes game.

Entertainment. Competition is the name of the game in poker. Possession of some skills and a little of luck which is needed in the game is the key to winning in poker. Because of the enjoyment it gives, poker is considered a sport by many people. Do not be taken by the entertainment status of poker because there is a possibility of losing money during the game.

Education. Application of poker skills to other facets of life is learned. Judgment skills (reading people) as well as logical and strategic skills (playing your hand) are enhanced.

To Make Money. While playing poker may be fun to most people, making considerable money is till the primary objective of most people. Of course, not all people can achieve the task. Not all players earn a lot of money. The desire to win more is the fuel to why people want to hone their skills in poker.

Poker is a type of wagering game where winning is actually a possibility. Winning in casino style wagers is an impossibility. Without obtaining enough information from an insider, winning in sports betting is almost improbable. Winning more money in a gambling form like poker can actually be done by simply being good in the game.


Poker is an exciting card game. Poker players look forward to tournaments the way people wait for Olympics. Great poker players earn respect and admiration. And poker is the only casino game that cannot be rigged. This means that players can actually win. Practically anyone can learn and play poker. But poker is not for everyone. There are certain types of people who should not play poker at all.

An emotional person should not play poker. We are not saying that poker players should be made of stone. But poker players are people who can subdue emotional outbursts and can channel what they feel into more positive and profitable endeavors. If a person is emotional and given to teary episodes or raging spasms, then poker is not his game. Unless he wants to lose all the time.

A person who has low tolerance should not play poker. A great part of poker is governed by odds and probabilities. And then, there is also luck involved. If a person cannot tolerate bad beats, weak cards, and losing streaks, then he cannot enjoy poker. Poker players also have different personalities. Some try hard to be comical while others are irritating. If a person cannot withstand sitting for hours together with such players, then playing poker will only bring him problems.

A person who likes to cheat should not play poker. Granted, poker started as a card game played by cheats, con men, and criminals, but that was many years ago. Poker is now recognized as a card game that can be beaten if the player is skilled enough. People who cheat at poker will not be welcomed by other poker players.

Lastly, a person who has a gambling problem should not play poker. Poker is a gambling game. All players realize that. But they should also realize that it is only a game and not a substitute for a good meal. In poker, it is possible to win money. And it is also possible to lose some. If you are a person who bets money that you cannot afford to lose, then you should not play poker.

How will you know that you will not have a gambling problem once you start playing poker? Visualize this. When a person comes to join a poker table, he risks losing his money. The money lost is lost. If you are a person who believes that the money you lost should be won back, then you will most likely have a gambling problem. You should avoid poker.