Parents wanting to get into poker
I’m a weekend warrior who has been playing for over 10 years. My dad recently retired and he’s looking for activities to fill his time. He asked me to take him to my local cardroom and teach him how to play. I’m against it for several reasons including :
1. He’s had gambling addiction in the past and is currently a borderline sports betting addict. There are table games at the cardroom that he’ll have a hard time resisting
2. He’s impulsive and not good at math. He would be the fish and I’d hate to see that
3. Games are tough
4. The cardroom is a miserable environment
5. The cardroom is my safe place and I don’t want my dad there seeing me drinking and gambling for thousands and snitching to my mom
6. I don’t want to hear his ****ing bad beat stories
What would you do?
5 Replies
I would point blank refuse and I'd do so on the basis of point 1. Not teaching a gambling addict to play poker any more than I'd teach an alcoholic how to taste-test Scotch.
I agree 100% with WereBeer.
Why not join a checkers, bridge, chess, or golf club, (or whatever else he would enjoy), with him and make sure to introduce yourselves to other members?
Once he's made a few new friends in the club, then your work is done. You can withdraw slowly - or maybe you'll find you like your evenings together and stay a member, too.
I agree 100% with WereBeer.
Why not join a checkers, bridge, chess, or golf club, (or whatever else he would enjoy), with him and make sure to introduce yourselves to other members?
Once he's made a few new friends in the club, then your work is done. You can withdraw slowly - or maybe you'll find you like your evenings together and stay a member, too.
Great suggestions. He’ll take this much better than a flat out no.
I wouldn't risk it, on the off chance he wins a big pot and then gets hooked. That can end in disaster for old folks on fixed income.
