High Times at the Poker Tables
There may be another reason than just trying to cut down on tells that has most poker player these days wearing sunglasses at poker tables. As many as eight out of ten players at the table could be stoned.
Photo by Mark Christopher
That’s the findings of a study conducted by researchers at The University of Florida and reported by Pokerroomreview.com. The study showed that as many as 80 percent of poker players use performance enhancing drugs while playing, which is about the same rate as 1990’s home run hitters.
And a third of those players said their drug of choice is marijuana.
Players said they used “cognitive and performance enhancing medications” in order to improve their focus and concentration, calm their nerves, stay awake and/or improve memory function.
The pot smoking seems to fall under the “calm the nerves” category, rather than the “eat a bag of M&Ms and take a nap” category.
One player was quoted as saying that “marijuana is by far the most safe and effective substance used to aid in poker performance …” while another admitted “I am a tilt monkey, then I smoke weed. I then stop being a tilt monkey.”
The researcher that the use of “marijuana and other substances allows players to better focus and concentrate on their game, giving them a competitive advantage.”
It also may explain why tableside food service in poker rooms is so popular.
Still this may not be as shocking as it seems. The list of substances the researchers say players are using includes caffeine, energy drinks, marijuana, alcohol, nicotine and cocaine. So popping a few Red Bulls gets you on the list.
And the study doesn’t seem to distinguish between players playing online or in real life poker rooms, though most of the respondents were found through Internet poker sites.
Pokerroomreview.com has the story (and is also where we found the very cool toking jack picture, courtesy of Mark Christopher).
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Great image. I thought as much when I created it.