Easy money? Don t bet on it

GREG MERCER
RECORD STAFF; With files from The Canadian Press


WATERLOO

Mike McDonald came home yesterday a millionaire and something else he hadn't expected to be when he left -- a celebrity.

From media to old classmates and potential sponsors, everyone wanted a piece of the 18-year-old who beat a field of veterans to win a $1.4-million pot at a Texas hold 'em poker tournament in Germany.

But McDonald, who is the youngest person to win a major European poker event, says he doesn't want to be an inspiration to other teens hoping to strike it rich with gambling.

Instead, the graduate of Waterloo Collegiate Institute warns that most people will never make much money at the card game.

It's like when you see these people who win $10 million buying lottery tickets, he said.

On average, you shouldn't buy lottery tickets because most people lose money in the lottery. It's the same with poker.

Most people don't study the game to the level McDonald does, he said. For every big-win story, there are many stories of failure that aren't being told, he said.

Tonnes of people think it's a get-rich-quick scheme. Most people aren't really willing to try that hard at the game, and that's why they're not successful.

It's those greedy players who often get trounced online by high-level experts like McDonald.

McDonald is a gifted chess player and math whiz who clearly has an analytical mind that gives him an edge in the game. People often underestimate the years of practice it has taken to develop his poker skills. They think he just got lucky, McDonald said.

His words of caution are just what the Responsible Gambling Council wants to hear. The council is worried teenagers will look to the Waterloo phenomenon as a role model and put aside school in favour of gambling.

The publicity around his big win is the worst-case scenario from the standpoint of gambling prevention, said Jon Kelly, the council's chief executive.

McDonald put his math studies at the University of Waterloo on hold to pursue a professional career in poker.

Another Waterloo poker prodigy, Steve Paul-Ambrose, echoes McDonald's warning.

The UW graduate knows about winning -- two years ago he took $1.3 million at a World Poker Tour event. But as many as 80 to 90 per cent of people who play poker regularly aren't winning, he said.

There are people who can succeed if they try, Paul-Ambrose said. But I prefer not to just blindly advise people to go play poker.

Most people with the natural skills to excel at poker can also succeed in a lot of other fields and shouldn't forsake those for a game of cards, he said.

Just because you can be successful at poker doesn't mean you should.

It's important to keep the game from controlling your life, said Paul-Ambrose, who limits his playing time to about 15 or 20 hours a week.

For a lot of people, it seems like poker just takes over their life, he said. You need to keep it in moderation.

gmercer@therecord.com

February 11 To 12, 2007 the first poker Sport Competition will be held in the provincial capital, Expires February 8 Taiyuan to the sports centre management application.

The contest is divided into groups, licensing, or two-person teams and two groups of two two-person teams, such as six Xiao Xiang game. Team leader at each team can be one person, coaches, a person (and athletes), four were reportedly hand, a group of men and women is not limited. 2 each component can participate in a two-person teams, is not limited to a few. Teams of the two projects can be reported that the two two-day conduct. Team will eventually take the top eight individuals before 16 be rewarded.

(Source: Interpretation Dushi Bao)