Why Do So Many Poker Players Smoke? 🚬💭

successlaw · Nov 30, 2025

I think that's an addiction like other like coffee or energy drinks

comini · Apr 27, 2026

I don't know the answer but I'm one of those players hahah

kecoakbogor · Apr 27, 2026

i also smoking when playing online, sometimes i become greedy when playing, smoke can make me calm down

it's like taking deep breath, when we focusing playing sometimes we forgot to deep breath and refresh

phuchoidey1 · Apr 28, 2026

I don’t think that important, that is just what you like or dislike

rdwr33 · Apr 28, 2026

Poker generates a lot of tension and fear. People who already use cigarettes and alcohol tend to use more in an attempt to minimize stress and control their central nervous system.

sasa2300 · Apr 28, 2026

I don't smoking. But in GGpoker I always use smoking sticker, than I have bad beat

Emily Trott · Apr 28, 2026

Could be because like smoking, gambling can be addictive.

infonazar · Apr 28, 2026

On my 275th attempt, I quit smoking. It was hard.
But it was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. If you're still smoking and thinking about quitting, don't give up.

fernandofcp · Apr 28, 2026

I don't smoke. People can smoke as much as they want and do whatever they want, as long as it's not near me. If I am near someone smoking, I will leave the area. Smelly smoke. Poker is poker, cigarettes are cigarettes and smoke is smoke. Everything in its place, please.

cwdignus · Apr 29, 2026

Before I knew about poker, all I knew was what I saw in old Western movies: poker players in saloons, smoking, drinking, and sometimes fighting and shooting each other. In my uninformed mind, the conclusion was that poker was something marginal.

NSX_Amfe2nat · Apr 30, 2026

It is not about poker. Lots of people can not control their emotions at all so they have addictions like that

Slonoptah · Apr 30, 2026

I think it might be because of nerves.

Lodestone · Apr 30, 2026

Unmedicated, unaware and unregulated ADHD lol

hajaehyun · Apr 30, 2026

For peace of mind?

ninocabral · Apr 30, 2026

I smoke while I play, I don't think anyone starts smoking because of poker

BigLemory777 · May 1, 2026

I think it has a lot to do with anxiety and concentration.
Poker has moments of great tension and waiting, so some use cigarettes as a way to relieve stress or pass the time.
But nowadays there are already many people updating this in other healthier ways, especially those who take the game more seriously.

seiya1989 · May 1, 2026

The pleasure of a cigarette with good coffee in a poker game is priceless

pep12343 · May 1, 2026

Hello, I don't smoke, but I think it's a common habit among those who already smoke. If you have the habit, or we could call it a vice, of smoking and you stop smoking for a long time, you will surely think about smoking while playing. This causes a great lack of concentration and, as a consequence, they end up smoking.
As for professional players, with the passage of time, I think that this habit has been abandoned, since it was previously considered a symbol of virility (without the intention of offending anyone, but that's how it was believed).
Nowadays, professional players have come to the conclusion that discipline goes hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle, which includes a good diet and, obviously, not smoking.

aajfilho · May 1, 2026

Maybe to annoy other players?

ranon77 · May 6, 2026

Honestly? It’s not about the cards. Poker means long sessions, high stress, and a lot of waiting between hands. For some players, smoking becomes a way to handle nerves, take breaks, or kill time during tank moments. Live rooms also used to allow it at the table, so it became part of the culture for older generations. Today most places are smoke-free, but the habit stuck for a lot of players.

austral · May 6, 2026

It’s not that smoking improves your game; rather, it’s a mix of stress, habit, and culture. And more and more players see it as something that harms long-term performance. Nowadays, there’s more emphasis on exercise, meditation, and mental techniques to manage tilt instead of relying on nicotine.

dreamer13 · May 6, 2026

The high number of smokers among poker players is explained by the high level of stress,Poker evokes strong emotions: euphoria from winning, anger from losing. Smoking is used as a way to calm down, switch off, and relieve emotional tension.

david018 · May 6, 2026

many poker players smoke primarily due to stress, the lentgth of games, and habit of using it in the casino environment nicotine can provide a temporary sense of calm and help players cope with pressure or boredom during long sessions, furthermore, poker has historically been associated with a culture where smoking was common, which reinforced the habit, however this is changing today due to restrictions and increased health awareness.

ebhdussha · May 6, 2026

A lot of people smoke, a lot of people play poker.

Also people who gamble tend to disregard the negatives of the activities they participate in.

kunkgreen · Thursday at 12:55 AM

When I was still playing live poker in college, I believe that more than 50% of the players were smokers, or at least smoked sporadically.

I liked your observation... Although I don't think we can correlate such events precisely, I still share the same observations, even if not as a rule.

The effect of nicotine on the body, if I'm not mistaken, is the opposite of what we say it does to relax us... However, from a psychological standpoint, I can say it is relaxing and relieves momentary tension!

I don't usually play while smoking and only do so during breaks... Sometimes when I feel bored I also take a break, but most of the time it coincides with the game's own break.

Why Do So Many Poker Players Smoke? 🚬💭

successlaw

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comini

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kecoakbogor

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rdwr33

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sasa2300

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Emily Trott

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