Vices That Can Decimate Bankrolls

Poker is the only game in which the odds are not in favor of the casino. This is because the casino does not actually play. While they do take a rake out of most every hand, the rake does not give the house any type of advantage because it is typically a small portion of a pot.

As a result, most poker players that are successful should have plenty of money in their bankrolls. This is a common misconception. Many players have different vices that prevent them from being able to keep a healthy bankroll. These vices come in many forms and some are not what you might think.

The most common vice that poker players have is other types of gambling. T.J. Cloutier is a well known craps player. Sammy Farha is a well known high stakes blackjack player. Mickey Appleman started as a sports bettor as opposed to a poker player. Many poker players tend to gamble in other areas. These gambling habits can sometimes cripple and even decimate a bankroll.

Another vice that some players fall victim to is a fancy lifestyle. Poker players want to live the life. They want to drive fancy cars, live in fancy home, dress sharp, and have the play toys that others have. As a result, they spend their bankroll on toys to look the part and end up not having the money to actually play.

Sex is another vice that causes many players, especially men, to throw away a lot of money. Whether they are taking women out to fancy dinners, spending money or escorts, or trying to get in the pants of other poker players, chasing sex can detriment a bankroll. Barry Greenstein stated that having a sexual partner can be good for a poker game. What he meant by this is a single regular partner. Whether that is a girlfriend, wife, or a regular escort, the emphasis was on a single partner.

Generosity can even be a vice. There are some players that will help any hard luck case they run across and give money to anyone that asks. Many times they will not see any of their money again. While helping out a person in need is a good thing, a person needing a buy-in to a $10-$20 is not the type of hard luck case you need to be helping.

Fame and glory is another vice that is not covered that often but is one thing that I believe that decimates a lot of bankrolls. Many players will chase the tournament circuit trying to get that big score or make a big televised final table. Some of these players would be better suited to stick to cash games. While I cannot fault someone for chasing a WSOP bracelet, some players need to really evaluate whether they can play every high stakes poker tournament around and keep themselves with enough money to support their cash games.

The above examples I give as a warning. Most every player has some type of vice in their life. The smart player does not sacrifice a big amount of money for their vice or only indulges sporadically. Those that cannot control themselves risk losing their bankroll and risk becoming one of the railbirds that need “just one more buy-in” to get them back on their feet.

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