[imported_luckyme]

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you're getting money without giving any service back to society.

[/ QUOTE ] It's in the same league as buying a puzzle book or paying to watch a movie. When they play poker they get to chose to have their skill levels tested at a price of their choosing.

Players pay to play with pros as bridge partners, or could challenge Tiger Woods to a money match. Players could stay home and play against their neighbours kids for rice krispies. The pro serves the role of 'test provider', much more directly than the owner of the rock-climbing arcade in the mall does ( he doesn't have to do better than you at it before you'll pay him). Providing what people want is a providing a service.
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and have more money to put into the economy.

[/ QUOTE ] The pro doesn't take the money home and put it under his bed. If a person is out playing poker it's often with money that would be sitting idle in their saving account. the pro will recycle it rapidly through the hookers and blackjack dealers.