Poker Therapy:
Addicted to Winning

Being that I fill the duel roles of poker player and mental health counselor, I suppose that it is inevitable that I'll get a huge amount of inquiries about poker addictions. It seems that almost all poker players assume that on some small level, they are at least partially "addicted" to the game. Because they think so much about the game, play very often, and seem to be psychologically drawn back to the table, they simply guess they are addicted. In reality, only a very small percentage of gamblers and poker players are truly addicted. While about 85% of all Americans have gambled at some time in their lives, only around 2% of individuals actually show signs of problematic gambling (such as stealing to finance play, losing job or family due to gambling, loss of control over gambling, etc.) I often attempt to explain to gamblers that it is the appeal of the potential wins that is more powerful than the addiction to the game. In other words, I find that the huge majority of us are much more "addicted" to winning than we are poker. I really shouldn't sway perceptions by saying addicted to winning, though. Addiction is a serious, pervasive problem. Allow me to rephrase myself by saying most of us are more attracted to winning than we are poker.

With all gambling and lotteries, we are enticed by the chance to win money. In poker, there is an added appeal because skill can be utilized to enhance our chances of winning. This fuels our competitive fires, and gives us a sense of hope and anticipation. Those emotions come back to us every time we buy into a game. The goal is always simple, and always the same: to win.

All of us have endured a losing streak. We've all had long runs that have brought us bad cards, bad beats, and a bad feeling about the game. In the midst of that heartache we encounter self-doubt, broken confidence, and a mix of negative emotionality that we label 'tilt.' Many times, that causes us to take a break from the tables. We have a temporary distaste for the game, and we take some time to clear our minds and get reenergized before we try playing again. True addicts rarely feel this sort of reaction to their individual addiction. For addicts, they lean more heavily on their addiction in their times of woe and disappointment. If an alcoholic is depressed or upset because of his drinking, he drinks more. What sucks the huge majority of us to the table is the chase of the win, not a real poker addiction. Our egos tell us that we are good enough, that we are smarter than the next guy. Our gut leads us to believe that we are better than a majority of the players out there. Our competitiveness drives us to beat our opposition, proving our self-worth and power. Our heart leads us to seek the thrill of the win.

So unless you've stolen to get money for poker, or lost a job because you cannot break away from it, you are probably not in the midst of a true addiction. If you think about poker often, steam for hours after a bad beat, and don't go to bed on time as you play late into the night online - well, then you are a poker player. It seems that hundreds of thousand of players are juggling their favorite hobby (poker) while still functioning rather well in all other aspects of life. You are attracted to the win, and you are drawn to the possibilities. Make sure that you find a way to control the game, and not allow it to control you.

If your self-evaluation does indeed leave you unnerved as you realize that you may indeed be addicted to gambling and poker, it is time to seek help right away. Unchecked, such addictions can railroad a life and cause a rippling of negative effects. Speak with your family physician for a referral to a Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC), or see the National Council on Problem Gambling at www.ncpgambling.org.

Note: In addition to being a columnist for many of the top poker magazines in the U.S. and Canada, John is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) in America. He has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Lock Haven University. You can arrange for interviews, speaking engagements, or find out more about the psychology of poker by emailing carlisle14@hotmail.com.

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