Playing Online

[Steve0492]

Ok, i am 18 and therefore legal to play poker online. I applied for my own credit card and planned to play the limit 5 and 10 cent games. When my parents found out, they were absolutely against it claiming i would become in debt, addicted, and anti-social. what can i do to convince them otherwise? or should i just wait till i move out and attempt to practice in the zoo of the play money tables?

[supafrey]

do you have access to their credit card?

what about their statements?

[Steve0492]

soon i will have my own credit card and my own statements. but yes, i do have access.

[MrDarling]

Well, this is all down to respect and maturity.

Are you going to use your own money to play? (ie money that you worked for, not money they give you as allowance)
Can you afford to lose the amounts you are planing to deposit?

Now, if your parents respect you, you can sit them down and explain that You are doing it only for fun and risking a small amount, something you would normally spend in a night out. (which is what you should do by the way)

If your parents don't respect you, then screw them and do it behind their back.

FWIW, when I first started playing poker a year and a half ago, was staying with my parents for few month. And got a same reaction when they discovered that I plan to play poker.
The stigma of smokey room full of scary people who will either cheat you or kill you is still fixed into to many people minds.

Since then they got used to it and even inquire on my success. (this is the only thing I do for money now)

Of course it helps that I'm double your age.

Good luck

Danny

[Muck]

Hi Steve,

Don’t worry about Super’ he’s just taking the piss

You need to address each of your parents concerns to convince them:

• Debt. Agree a limit to how much you can lose in total, give them access to your CC statements and poker account if they don’t trust you. In addition to this make sure you manage your bankroll!
• Addiction. Agree a limit to how much time you can spend playing each week and a maximum session time.
• Anti-social. Try and organise some home games with friend, maybe even teach your parents to play. Chatting and playing cards can be a lot of fun.

Play money is almost pointless I’m afraid to say Other than teaching you the interface.

[supafrey]

soon i will have my own credit card and my own statements. but yes, i do have access.

You know what you have to do. We won't tell anyone, I promise.

[MrDarling]

Yeah, but all love Aces, but make sure you play them strong and prepare to fold them on scary flops if you meet lots of resistance / action .

[Dave B]

Isnt online gambling strictly illegal in Washington? I think that is one of the states that has banned it. Most other states are silent on the law, so it is assumed that is it not illegal.

Also, respect your parents wishes until you move out and support yourself. They are right, 90% of people lose, become antisocial, etc. They are not being pricks, they want what is best for you.

[Steve0492]

hmmm... i will try the approach with the maximum amount of money and time. thanks muck. if that doesnt work i will probably just have to wait it out. and about home games. we used have them almost weekly and they are a lot of fun for socializing, but no so much getting better at poker. we usually end up playing only 8 hands an hour or so and people often flip cards when they fold or help others with hand decisions. its not that i dont like the home games, i just want to get better. thanks for all the responses guys.

[HalfSugar]

Give it a whirl. If you get in really deep, try a loan shark. What's the worst that can happen?

(See username 'StarlightCoast' for the answer to the last question)

[Steve0492]

ok, i get the point. im not going to go into debt. but seriously, why does it matter if you play with money you dont have if you win with it? (sarcasm)

but what about this starlight guy?

[MTClip]

Isnt online gambling strictly illegal in Washington?

Yes the incredibly intelligent and all knowing elected officals in the state of Washington have made online gambling a FELONY!! Putting those who play poker online right up there with rapists and murderers!!

[BeerWench13]

Putting those who play poker online right up there with rapists and murderers!!

Nonsense! The rapists and murderers would get out of jail long before any online gambler.

[steffend]

Your parents are right - deal with it and act accordingly ( I am a parent and kids got to learn to listen )

On the serius side, to respect your parents you could make a non deposit rule with them, so you dont deposit money and then you can play freerolls to get a bankroll startet, it is not easy, but if you are not able to do it this way, you will probably not be a winning player in the long run.

Regarding being anti-social and addicted, just ask them if they would rather you being social and being addictet to drugs instead ( but arent all us poker players anti social and addictet )

[nuke1234]

Your parents are right - deal with it and act accordingly ( I am a parent and kids got to learn to listen )

On the serius side, to respect your parents you could make a non deposit rule with them, so you dont deposit money and then you can play freerolls to get a bankroll startet, it is not easy, but if you are not able to do it this way, you will probably not be a winning player in the long run.

Regarding being anti-social and addicted, just ask them if they would rather you being social and being addictet to drugs instead ( but arent all us poker players anti social and addictet )

everything there saying is about right except the screw your parents part. its there house and probably there computer, which they can lock you out of if you screw up to big.

btw what is a freeroll. thanks