The growing popularity of poker and other card games has led some Ohio University students to satisfy their cravings for Texas Hold 'em online.
The emergence of Web sites devoted to interactive card playing has presented OU students and the general public with a new form of gambling, where the risks are the same as in real life.
Web sites such as http://partypoker.com and http://pokerroom.com are among dozens that are becoming a diversion for students and an alternative to the typical cards night.
Anyone over the age of 18 can register. Opening an account requires a name, address, phone number and date of birth.
Players have the option of playing for fake money or gambling with real cash. Real gambling requires a bank account number or a credit card and an initial deposit of $50.
Sophomore Chris Kline said he has played online since this school year and began using real money after winter break.
Kline said he is down a total of $5. He plays in online Hold 'em tournaments that cost $6 to enter.
When I first started playing
I played a lot more he said. Kline said the online atmosphere is not the same, and he would rather play games in person.
Freshman Dylan Conrad said he plays online every day. I play for hours and hours; it's a very addicting game he said. Right now he is down approximately $860, according to his transaction statements.
It's really killing me down here; that's a couple weeks' worth of work
he said. Conrad only works in the summer.
He learned how to play Texas Hold 'em with real cards two years ago, but recently, he only plays online.
Conrad plays at http://partypoker.com and began using fake money, but only plays for real money now. He deposits money into his online poker account directly from his bank account. The transfers are immediate.
According to the Gamblers Anonymous Web site, http://www.gamblersanonymous.org, signs of compulsive gambling include lost time from work or school because of gambling, gambling for longer periods of time than planned and an urge to continue gambling to make up for losses.
Conrad said he has received promotional gifts from casinos delivered to his house, and they also call with special offers.
Vicki Burks, a counselor at Health Recovery Services, 100 Hospital Drive, is certified by the National Gambling Counselors Certification Board. Burks said that online gambling is part of a growing overall problem. Young adults and senior citizens are the most at risk.
Part of the problem is that gamblers often do not seek help until they are already in debt. We have found that until someone gets in trouble
we don't see them
she said.
Burks said there is a problem when a person sets a limit on how much money to spend and makes excuses for going past the limit. She also said she is concerned with the possibility for underage gambling because of limited supervision online and children with access to credit cards.
Even after significant losses, Dylan Conrad continues to play online poker using his bank account. I have to realize it's more than a game
Conrad said, I don't know what is going to make me stop.
I do need to stop this
but it's a rush to play
he said.
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