Thought of the Day: Is FF gambling?

[Homeless]

Have to say yes for sure if its a money league, if its a freebie yahoo league then no.

[Redskins Win]

Yes it is gambling even if it's not for money, you're gambling if you bench peyton manning for joey harrington. Just because there isn't money riding on the outcome you're still taking chances and playing to win. You gamble when you make your picks, like those that took TO or gates, Ward were taking a gamble on wheter or not their hold outs would stick.

[SwiperNoSwiping]

Yep I agree...If you can win cash it is...If not, nope..Just in good fun.

I don't consider it gambling if you pay for a site to run it...But if whoever wins takes home a prize or money, then in my opinion it is.

[Pete123444]

For those of you that say it is gambling, I'm wondering, if I buy a 20 oz. sprite and win 1 dollar as a prize for a game under the lid. Is that gambling too?

I guess technically gambling includes alot of things. A person gambles when he drives down a 2 way road with oncoming traffic.

Personally, I think nothing wrong of someone who goes to a casino and spends a set amount of money at the tables or one-armed bandit to have a good time. I see no real difference in that or going to a movie. But if that action takes money from that persons basic needs or needs of loved ones, then that person has a problem.

[dream_017]

Agree with the majority on this one:

From my friends at dictionary.com

gam·ble ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gmbl)
v. gam·bled, gam·bling, gam·bles
v. intr.

1. a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
b. To play a game of chance for stakes.
2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
3. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.

If you can win cash it is gambling

[Pete123444]

Agree with the majority on this one:

From my friends at dictionary.com

gam·ble ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gmbl)
v. gam·bled, gam·bling, gam·bles
v. intr.

1. a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
b. To play a game of chance for stakes.
2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
3. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.

If you can win cash it is gambling

Just playing the advocate here. What if a person played in a FF league that was a money league but were playing not for the prize that was at stake. Like either in a coworker league,friends league, or just to get into a league that has more competition? Sort of like my previous example of buying a sprite and winning a dollar under the cap. If I bought that sprite, would it be gambling if i wanted a sprite and threw the lid away? In other words; if i personally wasn't in the league for the stake(prize) that was at stake. Even though there was a stake at stake?

[dream_017]

Agree with the majority on this one:

From my friends at dictionary.com

gam·ble ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gmbl)
v. gam·bled, gam·bling, gam·bles
v. intr.

1. a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
b. To play a game of chance for stakes.
2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
3. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.

If you can win cash it is gambling

Just playing the advocate here. What if a person played in a FF league that was a money league but were playing not for the prize that was at stake. Like either in a coworker league,friends league, or just to get into a league that has more competition? Sort of like my previous example of buying a sprite and winning a dollar under the cap. If I bought that sprite, would it be gambling if i wanted a sprite and threw the lid away? In other words; if i personally wasn't in the league for the stake(prize) that was at stake. Even though there was a stake at stake?

When I scrolled down I also found this, which is a little better(maybe I shouldn't always be in such a rush):
gambling

adj : preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure and especially games of chance; [syn: dissipated, betting, card-playing, sporting] n : the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table" [syn: gaming, play]

I would consider your FF example gambling - you are still putting a payment down with the chance to win(even if you were not playing for the cash).
The sprite example is a little harder. It would still be considered a gamble, but I would classify it as gambling, unless that was your sole intention - to win the money from the cap.

[JohnnyUnitas]

Agree with the majority on this one:

From my friends at dictionary.com

gam·ble ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gmbl)
v. gam·bled, gam·bling, gam·bles
v. intr.

1. a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
b. To play a game of chance for stakes.
2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
3. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.

If you can win cash it is gambling

Hey wait.
So we agree that a money league is gambling, but according to that article, a free league is gambling too!

1. a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.

So every week I would be betting on a certain outcome. Because it's a weekly contest in my head to head league, but there is no certain outcome. I can only hope my team of McGahee, DD and Bulger will beat his team of Deuce, Harrison and C-pep in week one, and that I will beat the team of Portis, Dillon and Palmer in week 2. There are no certainties McGahee will outperform Portis in week 2. Nobody know which fantasy-team will win. Sure, some teams may have better odds, but that's the case in every game, gambling or non-gambling. It doesn't guarantee anyone's victory. And this goes on every week of the season.

So even though I don't see free fantasy leagues as real gambling, according to the dictionary, I guess it is.

[Redskins Win]

Agree with the majority on this one:

From my friends at dictionary.com

gam·ble ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gmbl)
v. gam·bled, gam·bling, gam·bles
v. intr.

1. a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
b. To play a game of chance for stakes.
2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
3. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.

If you can win cash it is gambling

Just playing the advocate here. What if a person played in a FF league that was a money league but were playing not for the prize that was at stake. Like either in a coworker league,friends league, or just to get into a league that has more competition? Sort of like my previous example of buying a sprite and winning a dollar under the cap. If I bought that sprite, would it be gambling if i wanted a sprite and threw the lid away? In other words; if i personally wasn't in the league for the stake(prize) that was at stake. Even though there was a stake at stake?

When I scrolled down I also found this, which is a little better(maybe I shouldn't always be in such a rush):
gambling

adj : preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure and especially games of chance; [syn: dissipated, betting, card-playing, sporting] n : the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table" [syn: gaming, play]

I would consider your FF example gambling - you are still putting a payment down with the chance to win(even if you were not playing for the cash).
The sprite example is a little harder. It would still be considered a gamble, but I would classify it as gambling, unless that was your sole intention - to win the money from the cap.

You keep highlighting the "stakes", or the "bet" definition, and continue to overlook all the other examples of gambling, The first adj listed clearly is not concerned with gambling for money, and yet pretty much clearly defines 80% of the peeps here at the cafe

adj : preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure and especially games of chance;

Money is not the only definition of a gamble.

more from your first definition posting

2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
3. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.

That doesn't say anything about money being a part of gambling.
So yes, even FREE Fantasy Football is gambling.
I rest my case.

[charliebrown327]

I think this is turning into a mixup in semantics. If by "gambling" you mean paying to engage in a game of skill and chance with a cash prize as the reward, yes, fantasy football pay leagues are gambling, on par with playing the horses. It is a game of skill--you research about how the horse has done and how good the jockey is or what kind of offense the player is in and if his line got better or worse over the offseason or whatever, to try to give yourself the best chance of winning the money. It is a game of chance--you bet on the can't-miss favorite, watch him jump to a big lead, and he pulls up lame halfway through the race; think Priest Holmes. This definition of gambling was the one intended in the original post.

A generalized definition of "gambling" exists: taking risky action for possible reward. It mirrors the monetary aspect of gambling (putting money in jeopardy for the sake of possible gain). Of course, the playing of fantasy football regularly calls for this kind of gambling. When you decide whether or not to play Chris Brown when you know "questionable" means he'll either sit out or, just as likely, go for 115 and 2, you gamble. When you take a non-RB in the first round, you gamble that he'll be worth it (and that you'll still be able to field a decent RB corps). However, playing free fantasy football is not gambling, because you are not risking anything by playing free fantasy football.