Why poker is the game that increased the most in recent years ?Qualitative study about players motivations
Poker is the game that increased the most in recent years. Some Quebec poker players invest a lot of time and money in this activity. However, the motivations are closely related to gambling and the severity of the problems. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 poker players to better understand what motivates them to engage and maintain their participation in poker. Participants were recruited from a pool of 200 players who took part in a larger quantitative study. Results show that players engage in poker for many different reasons: enjoyment; social interactions; intellectual stimulation; competition and adrenaline rush; lure of winning money; pass time ; and, for some, make a living out of it. The interviews also highlighted the dynamic nature of the motivations a function of the medium in which poker is played and the stage at which players are in their gambling pattern.