Gambling has always been a subject of contention among Jews, but while it is frowned upon, it has never been strictly prohibited. Still, a lot of Jews are uncomfortable with gambling, and many of them consider playing poker and other card games as gambling too. But for Ari Engel, son of a Rabbi and top 30 poker player on the planet according to Bluff magazine, poker is not gambling and it shouldn’t be viewed that way. Let’s take a closer look at Ari Engel’s story and whether his point is valid or not.

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Who Is Ari Engel?

Ari Engel is a young poker player from Toronto Canada and has won a variety of poker tournaments across the planet including the WSOP twice, which is the most prestigious title in the world of gambling. Ari Engel is one of the top players in the world, and arguably the best poker player to ever have worn a kippah. He actually likes to wear his kippah during games and keeps kosher, and some people are uncomfortable with that. But, according to him, there is no basis for this, and he feels no qualms about playing.

Poker is a Game of Skill First According to Him

The main argument that Engel makes is that poker is a game of skill first and foremost. He says that while there is certainly a part of poker that is predicated on chance, it is skill that dominates, and he compares playing poker with picking stocks. 

“I’m trying to get an edge when I play poker,” Engel said. “Poker clearly has things that are out of your control, but there are plenty of things that are within a player’s control. When I play poker, I do not gamble at all.” He added. He even went further and said that he found it deplorable that poker had to be played in casinos as he believes it has no place there.

Is Poker Really a Game of Skill?

Is poker truly a game of skill or chance? Well, by definition, poker should be viewed as a game of skill with an element of chance instead of a game of pure chance. While it’s possible to use strategies on games like roulette or slot machines, no one can call themselves a professional roulette or slot machine player since the house always has the edge. There is no such edge with poker not only because it isn’t played against the house, but because of the game’s very structure.

The human element of poker and the fact that you can take an opponent out of a hand through strategy is what changes everything. And this is the reason why some poker players can win multiple titles. If you still believe that poker is about pure chance, we suggest you check out this strategy book and list of poker hands. You’ll quickly realise how much thinking is involved. 

Great poker players are not lucky. They usually have a combination of great mathematical skills, great emotional intelligence, a great understanding of body language, and other attributes like the ability to stay calm under pressure, to name just a few. They should never be addressed as pure gamblers as there is a lot of work involved in their craft. 

If poker was about chance, anyone could beat a top player by randomly betting. Any person reading this should try doing this at the nearest casino and see what kind of result they get and see if they still believe poker is gambling.

No Jew should feel bad about playing poker. It is not against the law and is more about skill than anything. But it can lead to other transgressions, so make sure that you keep your playing under control and don’t hesitate to seek help if you feel you’re losing your grip.