Moral Dilemma

[Compo]

I have always believed that anyone sitting down at a poker table is fair game. Until last night. Post-comp at Luton there was a 1/2 nlhe table consisting of the usual suspects plus a couple of unknowns. Late on a young lad sits down, with watching girlfriend, and pulls up £35. Within 30 seconds it is clear to everyone that not only is it his first time playing in a casino it is quite possibly the first time he has seen a pack of cards. He loses the £35, then another £20 then another £40, all in approx 4 minutes. it is excrutiating to watch. He stands up, has heated conversation with girlfriend, and asks one of the dealers what time the table closes.He is clearly off to reload. I expressed the opinion to one of the supersivors that he shouldn't be allowed to play as he was obviously incapable. I did notice on my way to the cash desk( shameless i cashed brag) that one of the dealers was in conversation with the young man before he could sit back down. Incidentally at the cash desk the young mans girlfriend was in tears, no surprise there. 

Opinions please.

[M3boy]

Take his money before someone else does.

He is going to learn a hard lesson here, best for you to take advantage than someone else no?

Some people need to learn the hard way.

I do not think it is your responsibility to safeguard other people in a casino, that decision must rest with the Casino staff imo.

[the sicilian]

I think you can only do what you have done Compo and pointed out to the card room team and they have a word with him...but when alls said and done unfortunatly he can do whatever he likes with his money and its not up to you or your consience to police other peoples activities.

Im sure if you wandered round the G for 10 minutes you would find even worse evidence of people not knowing what they are doing and losing money they cannot afford..

I know its hard and ive seen some extreme cases of it with much larger sums involved......but we live in a harsh world where people do have to be responsible for their own actions....but good on you for not being the sort to take advantage and being a decent human being..i agree that money won in such circumstances leaves an after taste...but sadly many others wouldnt...

[Compo]

I don't want his money

I don't want to take advantage of his obvious inadequacy.

The hard way is not always the best, or most effective way,of learning.

I believe it is everyones social responsibility to care for others who are clearly in need of help

Just my opinion

[bobby1]

I don't think you can do much more Dave, the guy shouldnt be playing a game he cannot play but in a casino there will be plenty if people playing games they know little about. Its the Cardroom manager and the guys decision as to whether he can play or not, if he is at your table then his chips are worth the same as everyone else's chips so I would try to win them.

I had a similar incident last week and I hope you dont mind if I stick it on here.

I sat at a cash table and the guy in seat ten was clearly drunk, his red drink was half split down his shirt and he was wobbling away in his chair, as it happens he was just buying into the game himself. The first hand we played was a multi way limp pot with him on the button and me to act 1 before him. I hold 6 9 off and the flop comes a rainbow King Ten rag, all checked to the drunk guy who bets the pot(about 12$). All fold round to me and before I can pass the guy turns his cards over showing Ace Queen and it is ruled that he can play his hand even tho he has revealed them..

What would you do next?

[Longines]

Fold. Seat ten is going to take any other action as a personal affront and will see a showdown come what may, whereas you've got 9 high.

There will be plently more opportunities.

[AndrewT]

You can sit down at Luton with under 20 big blinds?

I've found that a player who sits down with his girlfriend sat behind him watching will always be a bad player - they never seem to know what they're doing.

You should have taken his money and chatted up his girlfriend - 'I'm Compo, from the television, don't you know'.

[boldie]

You can sit down at Luton with under 20 big blinds?

I've found that a player who sits down with his girlfriend sat behind him watching will always be a bad player - they never seem to know what they're doing.

You should have taken his money and chatted up his girlfriend - 'I'm Compo, from the television, don't you know'.

+1

If his GF was in tears over him wasting the money you should tell her to leave his sorry arse.

I have been in a similar situation once in Holland in a poker game at the bookies (private game after hours) where I did take the guys money and, behind his back when he went to find more money, gave it back to his GF who was clearly upset at him gambling and looked a decent enough person...just told her to keep it for herself as she'll need it to buy new furniture when she moves out.

Before it makes me look too generous, it was a small amount.

[TheChipPrince]

I'm sorry, but my sympathy level would be quite low here, his money is worth the same as anyone elses...

[boldie]

I'm sorry, but my sympathy level would be quite low here, his money is worth the same as anyone elses...

It's never the guy I feel sorry for. People can burn their money for all I care. It's the GFs in this case.

[TightEnd]

I don't want his money

I don't want to take advantage of his obvious inadequacy.

The hard way is not always the best, or most effective way,of learning.

I believe it is everyones social responsibility to care for others who are clearly in need of help

Just my opinion

but how far do you take this Dave? Do we walk around a casino like a Gamcare vigilante extolling the virtues of responsible gambling to tilting roulette punters?

In your day job, do you broadcast warnings about punting on the racing channels? Do you personally feel uncomfortable if the channels you work on don't?

Surely the social responsibility you are concerned about is best exercised by the concerned individual, here you, getting up from the table.
 

[Karabiner]

The casinos make a great deal of their profits from new customers who have no clue as to what they are doing.

They are more than happy to acommodate these people who manage their money poorly with no qualms or conscience.

I understand your discomfort and I don't think I would feel comfortable playing with someone like this either, but I do believe that poker, and gambling in general comes down to the survival of the fittest and harsh lessons are part of the poker education.

[Graham C]

Surely a small price to pay for sharing a table with Dave Compton

I think drunk people are different, I'd not worry a bit about that, they'll just regret it in the morning and pass it off, but if the lads there with his missus in tears and clearly out of his depth, then it would worry me a bit too and I'd have spoke with the cardroom staff too. 

I don't think you could do more, except maybe have a word with him yourself off the table, but once he sits down again, you should carry on as usual.  If you told the card room supervisor and he's spoke with him, it's down to him.

[steeveg]

people go to the racecourse everyday who have no idea on how to gamble or place a bet and loose all there cash, but this case is different, if he was alone its up to him and yes maybe a friendly word may make him come to his senses, but the fact his girlfriend is clearly very upset to me says she will feel financial hardship,in every place of gambling  they make people aware of responsible gambling , i dont think its right for a casino, betting shop or any place of gambling to allow a man to carryon gambling while his girlfriend/wife is clearly showing how much financial harm this will do to there life

[TheChipPrince]

I'm sorry, but my sympathy level would be quite low here, his money is worth the same as anyone elses...

It's never the guy I feel sorry for. People can burn their money for all I care. It's the GFs in this case.

But if him spending £100 in casino sends her to tears, theres a lot more wrong with the relationship than just this...