Knowing When To Fold'em Important For Teen Poker Players
... and not just 4 them!
Video Games Being Supplanted By Poker
POSTED: 2:44 pm EST January 14, 2005
UPDATED: 11:27 pm EST January 14, 2005
What on Earth is interesting enough to pull a kid away from their video games? Try poker.
TV shows with big bucks on the line and professional poker players are glamorizing the game, so NBC 10's Dawn Timmeny took a look at the pros and cons of kids and poker.
Texas Hold'em is taking hold among teens everywhere. The shuffling of cards and the clicking of plastic chips is being heard just about anywhere that kids hang out these days.
Many parents are giving poker a thumbs up.
"I love that they are here. I love that I can watch them interact. Yes, that is definitely a good thing," said Susan Hewitt, a mother.
Ian Borden, 13, has his buddies over a couple times a month for a friendly game of poker.
Borden's dad, NBC 10 producer Deryl Borden, keeps an eye on the game to make sure the stakes aren't too high and no one goes home mad.
"It does teach them camaraderie, friendship and in some ways understanding and how to walk away and lose a little money or a little something and be a good sport about it," Deryl Borden said.
So, just how much money are kids playing for?
"Pots can get up to $5 and Corey won $26 one weekend against me," Ian Borden said.
"The most we ever had in a pot was $60, but that was at a birthday party, so a lot of kids, a lot of money," said Austin Fox, 13.
With poker paraphernalia flying off store shelves as fast as it is being stocked, experts are warning parents that if they are not careful, they could be gambling with their children's health. It is estimated that 8 percent of children who gamble won't know when to fold 'em and could become addicted.
"If you are suddenly noticing that there's some mood changes or something is different or they are borrowing large sums of money or its seem this is their total preoccupation, then perhaps it is a problem you need to take care of as a parent," said Dr. Joanne White, a therapist.
White also warns that you can't predict which kids are at risk, but acknowledges the dangers need to be kept in perspective.
"It may be teaching them critical skills -- math skills -- so there is an academic aspect to it and it's fun. It's a form of socialization," White said.
"There is more thinking than you would think. It's not like video games where you just sit and stare at the television or something," said Jake Messikomer, 13.
For those concerned about whether kids are being dealt a bad hand with this latest craze, keep in mind that, with teenagers, often what's hot today is passe tomorrow.
http://www.nbc10.com/news/4083960/detail.html
Video Games Being Supplanted By Poker
POSTED: 2:44 pm EST January 14, 2005
UPDATED: 11:27 pm EST January 14, 2005
What on Earth is interesting enough to pull a kid away from their video games? Try poker.
TV shows with big bucks on the line and professional poker players are glamorizing the game, so NBC 10's Dawn Timmeny took a look at the pros and cons of kids and poker.
Texas Hold'em is taking hold among teens everywhere. The shuffling of cards and the clicking of plastic chips is being heard just about anywhere that kids hang out these days.
Many parents are giving poker a thumbs up.
"I love that they are here. I love that I can watch them interact. Yes, that is definitely a good thing," said Susan Hewitt, a mother.
Ian Borden, 13, has his buddies over a couple times a month for a friendly game of poker.
Borden's dad, NBC 10 producer Deryl Borden, keeps an eye on the game to make sure the stakes aren't too high and no one goes home mad.
"It does teach them camaraderie, friendship and in some ways understanding and how to walk away and lose a little money or a little something and be a good sport about it," Deryl Borden said.
So, just how much money are kids playing for?
"Pots can get up to $5 and Corey won $26 one weekend against me," Ian Borden said.
"The most we ever had in a pot was $60, but that was at a birthday party, so a lot of kids, a lot of money," said Austin Fox, 13.
With poker paraphernalia flying off store shelves as fast as it is being stocked, experts are warning parents that if they are not careful, they could be gambling with their children's health. It is estimated that 8 percent of children who gamble won't know when to fold 'em and could become addicted.
"If you are suddenly noticing that there's some mood changes or something is different or they are borrowing large sums of money or its seem this is their total preoccupation, then perhaps it is a problem you need to take care of as a parent," said Dr. Joanne White, a therapist.
White also warns that you can't predict which kids are at risk, but acknowledges the dangers need to be kept in perspective.
"It may be teaching them critical skills -- math skills -- so there is an academic aspect to it and it's fun. It's a form of socialization," White said.
"There is more thinking than you would think. It's not like video games where you just sit and stare at the television or something," said Jake Messikomer, 13.
For those concerned about whether kids are being dealt a bad hand with this latest craze, keep in mind that, with teenagers, often what's hot today is passe tomorrow.
http://www.nbc10.com/news/4083960/detail.html
posted by Angel The Gambler @ 6:03 AM
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