Why Do So Many Poker Players Smoke? 🚬💭

[Pitonealal]

Hello everyone! 👋

I noticed something interesting in both online poker and live poker — it seems that a lot of poker players smoke. Whether during breaks in live tournaments or while grinning online at home, many of us reach for a cigarette (or vape) between our hands.

It made me wonder... why is that? 🤔

Maybe it's because poker can be intense and stressful — these long sessions, all this psychological pressure, bedbeats and constant decision-making. Smoking can seem like a way to relax, take your breath away, and reboot the brain between big banks.

Or maybe it's just a habit that naturally fits the rhythm of poker — taking a short break every few minutes, a quiet moment away from the screen or table, pondering strategy while hollowing out. Some players even say that it helps them focus or calm their nerves in moments of high stress.

But I'm also curious to what extent this affects performance in the long run. 😅 Does smoking really help players focus, or does it hurt endurance and clear thinking during long tournaments?

I've seen professionals like Helmut, Negreanu, and others talk about maintaining a solid mindset and a balance between health, so I guess smoking can be one of those things that it's hard to quit when poker already creates so much pressure.

What do you think — why do so many poker players smoke? And do you smoke while playing, have you found better ways to stay calm and focused?

🔥 Let's talk — maybe someone here has already gotten rid of this habit and can share their experience.

 

[Tero]

I think this is same like many things in poker. You think you are seeing a peculiar phenomenon but actually you are only looking at too small sample size. And how do you know that online players smoke? Do they mention it?

 

[Mag_P1e]

I think it's simply the force of habit that comes into play here. People associate a cigarette with a break, and a break with a cigarette, whether at work, at the poker table, or anywhere else.

 

[BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch]

a lot of live casinos don't allow that stuff anymore and I didn't want to be around ppl breathing that trash in for 8+ hour sessions during the week.

No idea why ppl want to poison themselves and give other ppl secondhand cancer besides being addicted to it which the big companies want them to be.

 

[hilary antonik filho]

I don't smoke, so I try to play live in places that prohibit smoking.

 

[HunRicky63]

I don't smoke either!

 

[antonis32123]

I guess it's the anxiousness because of the losses , when you'll get your losses back , when the good hand will come . So many hours sitting and playing doesn't help either the situation .if you already smoke it's easy to start smoking even more when you play poker . It's totally unhealthy needless to say

 

[Toruk Makto]

Because they like to smoke.

 

[martinoni]

They smoke to concentrate and to relax... what they don't know is that if they change their habits of smoking to take deep breaths, you can achieve the same concentration and even better relax as well...

 

[dannystanks]

When I first started playing poker in casinos, this was 1995, everyone smoked and it was aloud at the table while you played. The whole poker room was a cloud of smoke lol. It was horrible for me because I never smoked. I was so glad it went smoke free everywhere now.

 

[dompoker]

I think it's because smoking relaxes, I sometimes smoke when I play poker even though I know it's bad for my health.

 

[Poker Orifice]

When I was a smoker I would smoke at least 3x as many cigarettes while playing online poker. I had an exhaust fan set up by my window to keep the home from being smokey. Thank God I quit around 15years ago. It did go nicely with poker though... no clue why.

 

[dzsire]

I haven't seen any statistics on what percentage of players smoke.
I don't think it's any more or less than in any other field.

 

[chicbulls2]

To calm our nerves a bit

 

[navicula]

I’m one of those poker players who enjoys smoking while playing. Smoking helps me relax and stay focused during the game +.

 

[Vrotebal]

Many poker players smoke because it helps them cope with stress and boredom during long sessions.

 

[hardongear]

When I was a smoker I would smoke at least 3x as many cigarettes while playing online poker. I had an exhaust fan set up by my window to keep the home from being smokey. Thank God I quit around 15years ago. It did go nicely with poker though... no clue why.

Non smoker here but I do vape 420 a bit helps with aches, pains and sleep. Congrats on being able to quit it's one hellva hard habit to break whether one plays poker or not. The wife not a poker player quit almost 7 years ago. She smoked out of habit, addiction, stress and to relax same as why most people smoke. Poker has zero to do with it. With that said I'm sure the stress of poker makes one smoke a bit more than they normally would thou.

Cheers!!!

 

[SPANKYSN]

I was curious to read the replies. As a non-smoker...never smoked in my life (two puffs on a cigarette when I was twelve...still cough from that memory 60 years later)... I am however, a stress eater...doesn't need to be junk snacks; just toast or nuts or even healthy fruit...the point is that I am usually never hungry...it is a way to occupy my hands and mind. Any sort of artificial distraction or means of reducing the stress of playing poker defeats the purpose. Most poker players, if they are thinking clearly, and being true to themselves, will never make enough money to earn a living at Poker...it is entertainment for the majority of players...doesn't mean you can't dream of the big score...just be realistic...STOP smoking or overeating!!!

 

[KeyPatience]

I’ve never seen legends of the game doing it though!

 

[Navin Sarabjeet]

Hello everyone! 👋

I noticed something interesting in both online poker and live poker — it seems that a lot of poker players smoke. Whether during breaks in live tournaments or while grinning online at home, many of us reach for a cigarette (or vape) between our hands.

It made me wonder... why is that? 🤔

Maybe it's because poker can be intense and stressful — these long sessions, all this psychological pressure, bedbeats and constant decision-making. Smoking can seem like a way to relax, take your breath away, and reboot the brain between big banks.

Or maybe it's just a habit that naturally fits the rhythm of poker — taking a short break every few minutes, a quiet moment away from the screen or table, pondering strategy while hollowing out. Some players even say that it helps them focus or calm their nerves in moments of high stress.

But I'm also curious to what extent this affects performance in the long run. 😅 Does smoking really help players focus, or does it hurt endurance and clear thinking during long tournaments?

I've seen professionals like Helmut, Negreanu, and others talk about maintaining a solid mindset and a balance between health, so I guess smoking can be one of those things that it's hard to quit when poker already creates so much pressure.

What do you think — why do so many poker players smoke? And do you smoke while playing, have you found better ways to stay calm and focused?

🔥 Let's talk — maybe someone here has already gotten rid of this habit and can share their experience.

Yup most likely stressful for most players.
Too much tension and pressure.
Luckily not for me.

 

[s0ftdumps]

Zyns are a way better nicotine delivery system!

 

[ironduke11]

The nicotine addiction causes a spike in blood pressure when you haven't smoked in a while...

I saw a guy cleverly win a tournament by denying the smoke break...the opponents were so jittery from not smoking they played erratic and he picked them off...

 

[Dushka]

Because many people in the world smoke.

 

[steve01991]

i am assuming that they are nervous and they think smoking relieve the stress.