Does poker affect your family life?

dariana Orasma · Friday at 11:08 AM

Poker is a lifestyle and a world where you can achieve many goals, both personal and financial, but you can't overdo it, as that can affect your personal and family life. You have to know how to separate your personal life from the world of poker. What do you think? Have you had family problems because of poker?

veszmo · Friday at 11:23 AM

Although I play poker for several hours a day, my situation is such that it doesn't affect my relationship. It's just the two of us living together, my wife and I don't have any children.

Kasztor007 · Friday at 1:42 PM

I don’t think poker automatically harms family life. It only becomes a problem when balance disappears. If you manage your time, your money and your emotions well, it’s fine. Trouble starts when you bring tilt home or when every free hour turns into grind time.

For me, poker fits around my life — not the other way around. Tournaments can wait. Family can’t.

hardongear · Friday at 5:43 PM

Haven't had issues myself you just need to have a good poker, family and real world balance. Poker for me is just a hobby and a side hustle where I can make a decent amount of extra money. I enjoy MTT's more then cash....I just mostly play cash to afford and smooth out the MTT variance. I've found playing some cash during the week when I don't have enough time for longer blind level MTT's makes me enough profit to afford the MTT's I play on the weekend. Not every as down swings happen even in cash but overall cash covers my MTT's buy-ins plus a small profit.

I don't play much live at my local casino as that would mess up my family/poker/real life balance because if the hours you have to play. Playing evenings, late night into early morning doesn't mix well with family life and my wife's schedule nor my schedule.

Cheers!!!

margmilo44 · Friday at 5:56 PM

only if i run deep in a MTT. then leave me alone to cook!

SPANKYSN · Friday at 6:24 PM

My wife does not play poker, so I schedule my sessions when she is busy or sleeping.

ontopofpoker · Friday at 6:32 PM

poker, soccer, alcool, friends, girlfriends, work, ambition... many things affect my family life.

dompoker · Friday at 7:59 PM

It has affected me somewhat, for not having managed my time well, mostly during lunch hours, because I have to make food, for my mom, only the two of us live.

TulasMoreno · Friday at 8:57 PM

it depends if you cannot control your ludópathy, everything in excess is wrong, so yes, it can affect family relationships.

Leandro6803 · Friday at 9:53 PM

I haven't had any family problems because of poker yet, but I know people who have neglected their families because of poker, just as in poker everything must be balanced to be enjoyable and not a burden.

Jyco · Friday at 10:23 PM

I think it depends on whether poker takes time away from your family or important stuff at home, messing up your responsibilities and relationships. Plus, tilt can make you angry and treat people badly afterward.The key is balance—set limits so it stays fun and doesn't hurt real life.

yomyyomy · Saturday at 12:46 AM

I don't just organize myself to have the day for the event...

TheniT · Saturday at 12:56 AM

Poker players need to organize their schedules to maintain a healthy relationship with their families. It should be treated like a regular job with set hours.

harshu · Saturday at 2:42 AM

Poker can definitely influence family life — and whether that influence is positive or negative depends entirely on balance and discipline.

On the positive side, poker can improve financial stability if approached responsibly. Many players treat it as a serious hobby or even a profession, developing skills such as patience, emotional control, strategic thinking, and bankroll management. These qualities can actually strengthen personal decision-making outside the game as well.

However, problems begin when poker stops being controlled entertainment and starts consuming too much time, money, or emotional energy. Long sessions, chasing losses, or constant focus on the game can create tension at home. Family members may feel neglected, especially if poker takes priority over important responsibilities or quality time together. Financial instability caused by poor bankroll management can also damage trust within a household.

The key factor is balance. Setting limits on time and money, communicating openly with family members, and separating poker from personal responsibilities are essential. If poker is played responsibly and transparently, it doesn’t have to harm family life. But without boundaries, it can certainly create stress.

In my opinion, poker itself isn’t the problem — lack of control is.

Roller · Saturday at 1:28 PM

Poker starts affecting family life when time, mood, or money stop being controlled. Long sessions, emotional swings after losses, or bringing stress home are usually the first signs something’s off.

steve01991 · Saturday at 1:31 PM

I dont let poker affect my family life. Even if i signed up for a tournament and am playing, if the grandkids come over, they come first, so many times i will give up hands just to play with them!

navicula · Saturday at 1:32 PM

I don’t have any issues with playing poker because it is only a hobby for me. I play it casually and only when I have free time.... ☕

bowserdon · Saturday at 1:39 PM

Iwaste a lot of time on freerolls cuz there free

Dimidrol2 · Saturday at 1:55 PM

There should be a balance of interests in everything, and I already have my priorities, and that's my family. If I can play in MTT, I will, but if I can't, it's not my tournament.

akgross · Saturday at 2:06 PM

I play poker in my free time and therefore it does not in any way affect the interests of the family.

martinlgs · Saturday at 2:41 PM

I've decided to get back into poker. I started six months ago with Cardschat, and this return is motivated first by great memories and fellow forum members, and second by wanting to stay up-to-date and informed about new trends, rooms, tournaments, and get back in the swing of things. In the second half of the year, I'll get back to playing seriously and plan to build up a stack and bankroll.

Why am I doing it now? I'm 54, divorced, working on a literary project, and doing freelance work. In other phases of my life, it was more than just an occasional hobby, and doing it that way is a waste of time, money, and causes conflict at work and, above all, with my family. Now my children are over 19, and with my time organized in a more relaxed way, I can play poker.

letpic · Monday at 9:37 AM

For me, the biggest challenge is the schedule, especially since the best games usually run late at night or on weekends when the family is actually around

Sschafell · Tuesday at 5:02 PM

Yes, poker takes up a lot of my time.

DiazPoker3101 · 2026-02-25T00:50:24-0500

Poker is what motivates me to work. Sometimes I feel like there’s a calling telling me to keep going, not to give up on my dream. But it’s hard not to be results-oriented, and there are days when I think about quitting. Still, I love this game too much, and I don’t plan on ever stopping trying to win.

Poker Orifice · 2026-02-25T01:58:55-0500

Only when I'm losing. duh

Does poker affect your family life?

dariana Orasma

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veszmo

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Kasztor007

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hardongear

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margmilo44

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SPANKYSN

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ontopofpoker

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dompoker

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TulasMoreno

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Leandro6803

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Jyco

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yomyyomy

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TheniT

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harshu

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Roller

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