Promise Me
George Epstein
Three years ago, my poker classes started at the Claude Pepper Sr. Citizen Center in Los Angeles with just six students. Now we have over 40 people enrolled. Whenever a new poker class or poker lab starts, I call for all students to take a vow. “As a requirement for being in this class,” I say, “you must promise me that you will never play for the rent money.”
That’s always greeted with a smile from those who have taken my previous classes. I hold up my right hand and wait for all to join me:
“I will never play with the rent money.”
Then they listen patiently as I explain:
“We teach only WINNING! poker here; but there will be times when you lose. Luck is a factor in the game of poker. No matter how skilled you become, there will be times that the poker gods are against you. Hopefully that will be rare. In the long run, you will be a winner; but luck is a factor over which you have little control. Play only with money you can well afford to lose. Never play with the food money or the rent money. Promise me. . .” Then the class resumes. . . Responsible Gambling.
Recently I picked up a leaflet at the Normandie Casino, entitled Responsible Gambling Guidelines, published by the Office of Problem Gambling, a part of the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. This certainly relates to my rule of never playing with the rent money.
So I did some research. A recent study reported that 3.7 percent of the population in California “… has a lifetime problem or are pathological gamblers”- and that does not include minors. It’s important to understand that this study includes people playing the lottery and slot machines and other related games, presumably including poker.
But I suspect that most of these “pathological gamblers” are not the people we see at the poker tables. (I’ve seen people riveted to slot machines, feeding them with their coins.) Still, it behooves us as responsible citizens to discourage playing poker with the rent money.
Poker is a wonderful recreational activity, especially for seniors, and it has healthful benefits. (Perhaps you read my column in the May 28 issue about how playing poker helped retiree Aaron B. overcome serious health problems. His doctors could hardly believe the remarkable changes. He and his wife attributed these to his becoming involved in the game of poker. They thanked me profusely for helping him. That made my day!) If you play WINNING! Poker-the only game I teach-you will enjoy going home a winner. . . As my wife used to say, “Winning is great fun!”
But, as in all good things, we should avoid excess. Too much ice cream is not good for you! If you think you may be addicted to the game of poker so that you are no longer in control and lose consistently, it would be prudent to seek professional help or visit www. problemgambling. Most casinos can provide information of where to find help.
So, readers, what’s YOUR opinion? George “The Engineer” Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! and Hold’em or Fold’em? - An Algorithm for Making the Key Decision (T/C Press, PO Box 36006, Los Angeles, CA 90036) He teaches poker courses and the Poker Lab at the Claude Pepper Sr. Citizen Center under the auspices of the City of Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks. George can be reached by e-mail: geps222@msn.com.
Filed under: Poker News