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Poker as an Educational Tool

Poker as an Educational Tool: Cognitive Development through Gambling

Online casinos tend to get a bad rap from conservatives and some educators.  This is largely unjustified because the majority of casino only play is harmless and most gamblers can keep their internet poker play or backgammon habits under control.  The small majority who cannot control their play cast an unfavorable light on the whole industry.  The only thing the industry can do is prohibit these players from playing.  While it may cost them some revenue, it is essential for an improved industry image. 

One way the industry can improve its image is by demonstrating how games of chance are excellent tools for strategy and critical thinking.  If you play backgammon, you know how much strategy is involved and how important critical thinking is if you wish to succeed.  There’s a litany of strategy written in tomes and has been around for thousands of years as the game developed. 

The most demonized card game is poker.  Without a doubt, of all the card games online poker is criticized and paraded as a demonic game and one that leads to all sorts of sinful and lascivious actions.  What these critics don’t realize is that poker can be used effectively as a teaching tool.  Poker strategies are complex and it takes many years to become a good poker player.  If you teach poker as a learning tool; as a tool for critical thought and to teach probabilities, it would be an excellent tool to interest kids implicitly in math and strategy. 

Critical thinking is necessary for cognitive development and beyond school it is essential for success in the workplace.  If critical thinking is developed early in life, it benefits the child because it sets the stage for a lifetime of critical thought.  Instead of having to learn it later, the child intuitively uses what he learned at a young age; it will benefit him enormously. 

Texas Holdem poker would be a good game to teach young kids to help them develop their critical thinking ability.  Texas holdem is mostly skill but with a lot of chance as well; since you don’t know what the flop cards will be you have to take a more strategic path than you would normally take in draw poker.  Holdem requires you to blend strategy and foresight.  Additionally it teaches you money management skills which, if you look at American economic data, are sorely missing.   

The reason that teachers hesitate to use poker to teach kids is that poker is synonymous with gambling and to a lesser extent, Satan.  It’s hard to imagine that this block will be overcome because of the shrill nature of the conservative battle cry in the States.  It’s a shame, though because so many of the critical skills and life lessons that are necessary for success are contained in poker.  If the online poker and online casino community would put advertising dollars into a ‘poker as education’ campaign, that could change.  But, don’t hold your breath.