Poker's Sexuality, Uncovered
There are, in fact, quite a few sexual connotations in Poker.
Mr. Fresco of the Department of Psychology of San Francisco Stat College has done some very interesting work in the field of gambling, correlating game behavior with other characteristics.
He sees the motion of the hands in dealing, and much Poker terminology - 'Stud' Poker, 'hit me' for deal me another card (hitting oneself is also used as a synonym for masturbation) and 'I sure got screwed that time' as masturbation equivalents.
With the male peer-group structure of Poker, it seems to be an exhibitionist but diffused sexuality that is expressed - not directed toward anyone in the group.
This for of expression of sexuality would seem an ideal outlet for and defense against homosexuality in an all-male group.
Poker, thus, is very popular in such a situation as an army camp or lumber camp, since it allows for the expression of sexuality (and also aggression) in a highly symbolic and impersonal form that will offer the least threat to the individual or to group cohesiveness.
Sexuality openly expressed as between individuals in an all-male group must by definition be homosexual, and the strong cultural barriers against this lead to building up all sorts of elaborate defenses.
Gambling and game behavior are a socially well-accepted activity that enables the individual simultaneously to express and deny the emotion, so it is not surprising that this outlet is often used in such situations.
As to the expression of aggression, all gambling forms a way to express aggression and competition safely - the loser tends to blame his own luck or bad cards instead of feeling directly hostile toward the winner.
In addition, this form of competition is comparatively free from threats of reprisal and thus tends to appeal to timid people, afraid of the results of expressing aggression more directly.
Sometimes, however, the attempt to impersonalize the hostility is not altogether successful; direct expression of aggression against the other players not uncommonly arises out of gambling situation.
Many compulsive gamblers express sexuality through Poker in an almost overt way - this interpretation seldom seems alien to them, although it is apt to disturb the more casual player.
It may be that motivations vary - or it may be that the compulsive player's conflicts are closer to the surface and less deeply buried.
The compulsive player's thrill generally comes from losing rather than winning, which has many implications for the gambler's point of view of sexuality.