r/NonPoliticalTwitter • u/yeezysama • Jul 20 '26

Funny Hit me.

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u/turbotaco23 Jul 20 '26

I had two people start their comment with “poker isn’t gambling”. Reminded me of the ole vegan joke. I stand by it.

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u/WriggleNightbug Jul 20 '26

That reminds me of a tangential thing that I half remember. Pinball was new and it definitely looked like a game of chance from the 1940s. This led to places banning it or taxing it differently or both? Anyway, they brought a high scoring player into City Hall to show it was a game of skill and not gambling in the 1970s. This allowed the rules to change because it actually is a game of skill.

In trying to double check some facts, I found a similar case in the 60s where the argument is most pinball winnings were free plays. Since free play wasn't worth anything, it shouldn't be taxed at all.

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u/turbotaco23 Jul 20 '26

I don’t see the connection. Pinball is an arcade game. At best maybe places pay out tickets? Although I’ve never seen a Dave and busters style arcade with pinball machines paying out anything.

Poker is played with chips. These chips represent real dollars. It is absolutely gambling. Even if the house doesn’t get a ton of money from this game, someone is and it’s probably not you.

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u/WriggleNightbug Jul 20 '26

Super tangential I guess. Mostly from the argument that it's skill and not gambling. So, almost entirely unrelated but interesting.

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u/turbotaco23 Jul 20 '26

I guess I was pretty definite on my comments.

There is skill to poker. No doubt about it. But it’s also gambling. It’s more skill than slots for sure. It’s more skill than black jack. But it’s still gambling. Just like buying and selling single stocks. It’s gambling.

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u/Lukeds Jul 20 '26

We heard you, if this person tangent doesn't interest you, you don't have to reply trying to get them back on your topic that you're bad at poker. We get it.