Youth Playing Poker

[coolieo69er]

I have found since the "explosion of poker" that teens and even "tweens" are getting envolved in the game. When I walk around my school at lunch it is not hard to find a game going on between the younger students for cold hard cash. If these teens devolp gambling problems at this age what would be like when they are older. You would think teachers would discourage this type of gambling but sometimes I see teachers getting in on the action with the students. I am just wondering what you guys think about younger people playing poker.

[Zybomb]

Where are "tweens" or even younger teens getting money to play poker?

And I agree it can lead to a generation of problem gamblers -- and Im surprised poker is not outlawed at the schools? (I remember when I was in middle school they had banned certain trading cards bc of gambling and theft)

[coolieo69er]

I have seen them use lunch money or some of them have part time jobs. My younger brothers play poker and sometimes my own parents even give him money to go play.

[Zybomb]

That part is something I disagree with -- as especially for younger kids, it doesnt teach any money management or fear of loss.... which can lead to people getting out of control... although Im sure the stakes these young kids are playing at are super micro

[coolieo69er]

I also disagree with also. I confonted my parents onec about it. They just say it's his money so let him spend they way he wants. I know other parents also do this because my broth goes to a game at some ones house almost evrey week usually with ten other people.

[Gordogg]

I think at least half the noobs on here are under 18. If you make unintelligent posts and beg for money, I'd say there's a good chance you are living with mommy. Living with mommy is not a bad thing, as long as you don't act like a fool and actually want to learn poker and not beg for money or freerolls. Poker is the in thing right now. If poker was this popular when I was in high school, I'm sure there would've been all kinds of games going on in school. With poker being the in thing, there are tons of people who are playing now for that reason. As soon as poker dies down, they will be gone, on to the next fad. I don't think playing for lunch money will turn people into gambling addicts later in life. Some possibly, but not the majority. They will eventually get tired of poker (and losing) and move on.

I remember skateboarding was the thing in 1988/89. Then collecting sports cards from 89/93. What else has there been. Bowling was huge back in the late seventies early eighties. Skateboarding has actually came back in the last five years. I think poker's popularity will die down in the next year or two then there will be another hobby or activity that explodes onto the scene.

[left68wing]

I think it's probably better that they learn about gambling at an early age when they have time to recover from a serious problem. I'm not saying that parents giving money to play is a good thing, but using their own own money I think can teach some kids the value of the dollar.

[Bugsy1706]

I played poker at lunch time 35 years ago in High School. All it did for me was forge some great lifetime relationships and no one was hurt by it. As long as the stakes are low I believe its a good thing. BTW many of these people went on to excell in the fields of math and physics. Poker does teach you how to think!

[olysports]

Actually, I got started playing poker back in high school and I have been playing poker ever since. I think even more teens are playing now since poker has been getting more popular by being shown on TV.

[X-Longshot-X]

My nephew is 16 and he plays poker every week with his buddies and sometimes comes and plays in my game, i feel that as long as these kids are gambling with thier own money and not losing too much and the game is not interfereing with their school work then let them play, they will be old enough to play legally in a couple of years anyways.......Some of them are very good and we could actually learn a thing or two from the younger generation

[Favre[4]]

I used to play poker in 5th grade but we only betted pencils and school things like that. The teachers would try to stop us but we always keep playing. That seemed like such a long time ago and its funny how i didnt really know what i was doing. =P