A study by the Australian Gambling Research Centre has found that poker players have a tendency to gamble in many forms and are at high risk of developing a gambling addiction.
The study looked at the gambling habits of poker players and found that nearly 40 percent of those who play poker are at high risk of becoming addicted to gambling and having mental health problems.
The research found that poker players don’t necessarily become addicted to poker, however, and often develop addictions to other forms of gambling such as slot machines and blackjack.
Lead researcher Andrew Armstrong said many poker players lose more money on other forms of gambling than poker—$3,673 on average, annually versus $1,758 spent on poker.
“Poker is a form of gambling which players go into with a sense of control over their risk, more than other activities in particular. You can estimate your level of skill against your opponent, by virtue of an immediate win or loss, the way the money is moving, the way the table is shifting,” he said.
Other forms of gambling are often played against the house with the odds stacked against long-term play. That leaves poker players who may win at that game losing more on traditional casino games.
“So, these people are high-risk gamblers, but they’re not losing their money predominantly on poker,” Armstrong said.
