If you asked the question why they play online poker, many people will reply, “for the money”, but is it what you think too? First, most of them lose, and they are obviously denying reality.

Of course if you use a full tilt bonus code, you get a good start to be profitable playing poker. But nobody does anything for just one reason. For instance, many of us don’t go to work only to make their money; we also look for additional benefits like participating, being respected by our peers, avoiding being lazy, and being useful. If we work for other reasons than the money, why would anyone think that playing a game is just for the money?

Because poker in all variations is a game with a deep macho culture. Remember that the goal of poker is to get the other players’ hard earned dollars. Machismo is so present that some persons who don’t play for wining pretend they are playing to win.

So many people simply want to win pots, even if it means they lose money. The pleasure they get when they win a pot is what they seek more than a positive profit overall. They know that being too loose cost them money in the long run, but the dopamine from winning so many pots is more important to them than making money overall.

Texas Hold’em poker is a game, not a business for the largest number of tournament poker players. We prefer to play games for all kinds of goals, but mostly for entertainment. The dollars lost or won are not different from fish from the river, just a way to keep track of each player’s results.

It is winning for its own sake, making a big score that drives many players, not the cash. Additionally, everybody even the most profitable poker pro has completely unrelated goals such as the desire for excitement.

Whoever saying that poker players play games to maximize their return misses what actually is going on in most poker home games.

For example, many poker players deliberately turn away if shown their opponents’ cards; they don’t like to prevail like that. on occasions take crazy risks such as playing weak hands, ignoring odds, and playing versus superior players.

You will not understand any other player’s motives for playing poker until you know that the belief that most people play to win is just false. This concept is identical to the economists’ axiom that corporations always seek to maximize their ROI. Until very recently profit optimization was an article of faith, a basic tenet of economics.