Gambling as a form of Mental Sports

[abaeze]

I'm amazed at how people in this thread talk about gambling in general as a form of mental exercise without distinguishing between different types. If you play poker with knowledge or sports betting, but studying, and not just guessing, it's a form of mental exercise, but in other games it's not.

I think the intention of the mind is the most effective here. If someone plays poker or sports betting to improve their mental skills or brain power, it may be justified by logic, but when it becomes a habit and combined with the desire to earn extra money, it is no longer the same. So one thing to always remember is that it is better not to do habits that can lead to bad habits.

[bubilas]

Well, poker is actually a mental sport. I deeply respect strong poker players because they're smart, I'd even say they're gifted mathematicians. It's not random people who win, but those who can think for at least two people—for themselves—and also understand what's going on in their opponent's head. When I watch tournaments, I'm always amazed at how accurately poker players know their opponents' cards.

[$weetne$$]

Right, everything that involves money like in gambling, it can't be a form of mental sports as it will not stimulate the mind in the positive way. Specially in losing, you won't feel right and you're mind is sending a different signal like to play again and chase that lose.

As compare to like short walking or breeze walking or going to the gym. You really feel good sweating and the dopamine release has a different effect on us. So we might as well to this things and not think of gambling as a form of mental sports because it's not.

The kind of stimulation the mind gets from gambling as a mental sport is not one that feels healthy enough  and can sometimes if not most times cause the mind some adverse health conditions of which the gambler begins to need help, personally I do not encourage this kind of "mental sport" I will advise there are other healthier ones like you have mentioned in which one can always engage in, that will make even more sense than wanting to gamble as a mental sport.

[Fredomago]

Well, it may be the opinion of others, but it is not universally agreed upon. Gambling is a game of money, while sports are about exerting one's full energy, not just the mind. In fact, sports educators never mention gambling as a way to energize your mind and become active. If we have to understand deeply, sports are to become healthy but not for gambling. I think you already know that many gamblers become addicted and ruin their mental health. That is enough to consider that gambling should not be taken seriously, unlike sports.

Agree to that, most of the time gambler treats gambling as money making venue where they can possibly achieved decent earnings, though if taking things in a wrong perspectives it can ruined both financial and mental aspects where health was compromised, unlike with sports those types of healthy activities in which it helps you both physically and mentally.

And likewise, if you unable to handle pressure inside gmbling it can ruined you in form of stress and those other after effect mostly when you get addicted.

Yes, many people think that gambling is going to be fun, and that's exactly what we feel at first. But as we continue gambling, we find out that it is stressful. Especially if we are under pressure to win because we have to pay our loans. Gambling is not the right venue to exercise our minds. Mental stress is not good anymore, and in many cases, this becomes a reason for suicide.

It is time to correct our mindset. Gambling may be good for those who are able to control themselves. But using this as a way to develop positivity, we're in the wrong direction.

I agree to that, having too much pressure can led you to end your life and that's part of reality when a gambler suffer in a deep addiction, they will do everything to keep them pleasing their desire to gamble to the point that they resort to borrowing money. It adds up to the pressure and once they don't have anything left worse things may happened, better to find other things if you want to keep your mind busy there are many other things or activities that you can involve yourself.

[Hispo]

Well, poker is actually a mental sport. I deeply respect strong poker players because they're smart, I'd even say they're gifted mathematicians. It's not random people who win, but those who can think for at least two people—for themselves—and also understand what's going on in their opponent's head. When I watch tournaments, I'm always amazed at how accurately poker players know their opponents' cards.

It is not only about their abilities related to mathematics or how quickly they can count their cards and the possible mental calculations they do related to their cards.

It has also much to do with the way professional poker players can read all facial cues and physical hints the rest of the players unknowingly give when they get either a very good hand or a very bad hand.

Ever wondered by some poker players like to wear shades? It is because it is believed some players can see when someone gets a particular hand through the eyes.

[peter0425]

I'm amazed at how people in this thread talk about gambling in general as a form of mental exercise without distinguishing between different types. If you play poker with knowledge or sports betting, but studying, and not just guessing, it's a form of mental exercise, but in other games it's not.

I think the intention of the mind is the most effective here. If someone plays poker or sports betting to improve their mental skills or brain power, it may be justified by logic, but when it becomes a habit and combined with the desire to earn extra money, it is no longer the same. So one thing to always remember is that it is better not to do habits that can lead to bad habits.

There are only a few people who genuinely goes to play poker or other card games to improve their mental skills. Most play for entertainment or to earn money. Though those can be done while also improving the mind, not everyone consciously thinks of doing gambling with that in mind as their primary motivator to gamble.

[DaNNy001]

Well, poker is actually a mental sport. I deeply respect strong poker players because they're smart, I'd even say they're gifted mathematicians. It's not random people who win, but those who can think for at least two people—for themselves—and also understand what's going on in their opponent's head. When I watch tournaments, I'm always amazed at how accurately poker players know their opponents' cards.

Poker is a mental game that's right, but I think it's more of knowing that tricks behind it and experience, it doesn't really have anything to do with mathematics...Technically, games like dice involves the use of numbers, probability to be exact...To know an opponents card it's all about watching them closely, looking at their hand movement and trying to predict their next move...this is why I said it has a lot to do with experience

[Johnlomape]

I'm amazed at how people in this thread talk about gambling in general as a form of mental exercise without distinguishing between different types. If you play poker with knowledge or sports betting, but studying, and not just guessing, it's a form of mental exercise, but in other games it's not.

I think the intention of the mind is the most effective here. If someone plays poker or sports betting to improve their mental skills or brain power, it may be justified by logic, but when it becomes a habit and combined with the desire to earn extra money, it is no longer the same. So one thing to always remember is that it is better not to do habits that can lead to bad habits.

People are going through different mental challenges and I am not surprised to see someone trying to gamble so that they don't become too lonely to think about thinks that can affect their mental stability. People at the hospital that are facing Cerebrovascular issues are most time place in a place where they can see people and make interactions if possible so they don't over think or do something that may cause harm to themselves if the surroundings. Gambling might be a way to ease their thinking so they don't have to over react to small things.

[DubemIfedigbo001]

Well, poker is actually a mental sport. I deeply respect strong poker players because they're smart, I'd even say they're gifted mathematicians. It's not random people who win, but those who can think for at least two people—for themselves—and also understand what's going on in their opponent's head. When I watch tournaments, I'm always amazed at how accurately poker players know their opponents' cards.

Poker is a mental game that's right, but I think it's more of knowing that tricks behind it and experience, it doesn't really have anything to do with mathematics...Technically, games like dice involves the use of numbers, probability to be exact...To know an opponents card it's all about watching them closely, looking at their hand movement and trying to predict their next move...this is why I said it has a lot to do with experience

Knowing tricks involved in poker and other mental games comes out of experience. That's why I mentioned in the OP that in comparison to normal physical sports, you engage in it consistently and train your mind and overtime your experiences increases and you'll be able to play with much awareness of the crafts and tricks associated with these mind games so as to be able to use them to your own advantage.