Fundametalist Poker Players

[malorum]

Further to bluffthis' recent thread, I thought I'd be more specific in my question.

I am intrigued that there are so many religious posters (In particular conservative christians and Jews - yes you BossJJ and not ready)
The reason I am intrigued is that Poker and gambling is generally condemned within both traditions. There are apologetics and defenses available, but the consensus accross both sets of traditions is that Gambling is very bad.
My previous thread on playing dreidel was a light hearted somewhat obscure opener for this serious question.

For me its rather simple. I'm a fundamentalist christian, but Poker plays a critical part in my financial life. I am under no illusions however that my religious perspective condemns this source of income. I can't reconcile the two adequately so I simply get on with my life as saint and sinner (simul justus et peccator).

Most people are not in my experience quite as happy to compartmentalise their lives like this and I imagine some of you religious posters have some interesting defenses for your Gambling antics. I'd like to hear them and engage with them.

BossJJ in particular is asked to give me his conservative Jewish take on why Gambling aint so bad after all.