I wonder if poker players and gamblers have read this old book from 1847 by J.H. Green

An exposure of The Arts and Miseries of Gambling: a warning for the youthful and inexperienced against the evils of that odious and destructive vice.

And should this effort be received with favor, it is his intention, at no very distant day, to travel and
lecture on this subject. And observing, moreover, the kindness and consideration which have every
where been generously extended to those novel laborers in the temperance field, he was led to
believe, that, if those who have been reclaimed from the destructive vice of gaming, would, in
like manner, throw themselves upon the indulgence of the friends of virtue and humanity, they
might reasonably expect that they would not be excluded from a share in their kindly regards ;
nay, that the voice of every such person would be lifted up to bid them God speed. If, however, he
should be disappointed in this expectation, he hopes to enjoy what will most amply recompense
him for the loss — the approbation of his Maker, and of his own conscience.

I will only add, that the task of the reviser has been a comparatively light one ; the work having
been fully written out before it was placed in his hands for examination ; and thinking, as he did,
that it would be much better to let the writer tell his own story in his own way, he has done but
little more than correct such grammatical errors, and verbal inaccuracies, as occasionally occurred
in the course of the manuscript. If the reader should take up this volume with the expectation
of being fascinated by a display of fine writing, his anticipations will not be realized ; he will,
nevertheless, it is believed, meet with an intelligible presentation of such revolting and astounding
facts, in reference to one of the most abominable evils that ever cursed the civilized world, as will
serve to inspire him with an inflexible determination, not only to abstain from it himself, but to
put forth his energies in every allowable way, to check its progress, and, if possible, to put an end
to its very existence, in every part of our beloved and Heaven-favored country. To every parent,
especially, who is solicitous to preserve his sons from the contaminating influence of the vices of
the day, the author looks, with much confidence, for the most prompt and cordial encouragement.

POKER, CASINO And GAMBLING.

THE sin of gambling, against which my present efforts are directed, is as great and widely spread as any, which,
at this time, exists among us. Scarcely any class of our people are totally exempt from the effects of this deplorable
evil. The children gamble, young men and women gamble, the middle-aged father and mother, who are rearing
families, gamble, and, to complete the picture of degradation, we may often behold the hoary-headed sire
as ardent a votary of this vice as any on the black catalogue of evil doers. And though we live in an age of
moral reform, yet how little is being done either by legislative enactments, voluntary associations, or otherwise, to
check this mighty evil, which is at once the parent of innumerable other vices of the most disgraceful character !
The press, which is, or ought to be, the guardian of our public morals, very rarely alludes to this most abominable
practice : the ministers of religion have become so accustomed to regarding it as a thing generally practised or
tolerated, that they seem to have lost much of that just abhorrence with which it should always be viewed, and
but seldom speak of it in their sermons ; and the consequence is, that it is left to do its work of destruction
almost without an effort to reform the old, or restrain the young. Indeed, in many parts of our country, the people
are almost as much addicted to this vice as some of the ancient Germans, as described by the Roman historian ; *
and yet our moralists allow it to exist and spread in comparative quiet, instead of standing up and deprecating,
and battling against its pernicious effects with all their ability, as it is their bounden duty to do.

Gambling is a sin of the deepest dye — one that strikes at the root of every good and virtuous feeling known to
our nature. When a young man has imbibed a passion for it, all sense of honor and probity soon becomes eradicated,
and every noble quality which elevates man above the brute creation, is prostrated, and generally forever.
His whole soul becomes absorbed in the darling vice ; and the love of parents, of country, and of his fellow-
men, and all the pleasure which he may have formerly taken in literary and scientific pursuits, are completely
lost sight of, and soon become annihilated. There is no redeeming quality which the gambler can set up against
the crime he is committing. He is fully aware that it is impossible to make his infamous vocation a certain
source of gain, unless he will continually practise the vilest artifices and deception, which render the heart
callous to every feeling of morality and religion. Let us reflect for a moment on the condition of the man who is
constantly making use of such dishonorable means, not only for the purpose of ruining such as chance may
throw in his way, but even the bosom friends of his youth ; some of whom are almost sure to fall into the
snares of the professed gambler. All the finer sensibil- * Some among the ancient semi-barbarous nations, after losing all their property by gambling, including their horses and armor, frequently staked their liberty, and became the slaves of the winners, remaining in servitude for life, unless their masters emancipated them.

Page 298
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with…

Page 314
he that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with…

Page 326
without any fixed residence, and in the habit or practice of gambling, he shall be deemed and taken to be a common gambler, and upon conviction thereof,…

more »