On people who play poker for a living

[MrMon]

[ QUOTE ]
In a poker game, the loser doesn't gain anything when he loses his money.


[/ QUOTE ]

Incorrect. In every hand of poker played, each player gains the chance to win the money of the opposing players. Each player values this chance differently - some value it as an intellectual challenge, some value it as a thrill, some value it as a way to prove their superiority, some a mixture of all three. There may even be different ways to value it (social interaction, storytelling, the dream of putting a bad beat on Hellmuth, etc.), but make no mistake, every poker player values that chance. They value it more than they value the money it takes to take that chance. And as the hand progresses, they reevaluate their chances at winning and decide if they value that chance more than the money required to continue.

Now, at the end of the hand, or night, they may look back and say, "That was stupid", but at the time of the transaction, they valued the chance to win more than they valued the money. In other words, they are being entertained by the chance to win, regardless of whether or not they do so.