Survey claims people who know how to play poker have better luck at work

By Richard Jenkins via SWNS

Damn straight. If you want to be flushed with success at work play POKER.

Research reveals card players are better at decision making, critical thinking and more likely to get a raise.

A poll of 500 adults who play the card game found more than half (54 percent) believe it’s given them abilities they can use in the workplace.

They include being able to read people (58 percent) and deal with pressure (56 percent), while 54 percent have boosted their levels of patience.

Overall, more than half of players polled in the study commissioned by 888Poker.com, said playing the popular card game has helped them progress in their career.

Abby Merk, the teacher at the organization Poker Power, said: “I now focus on the quality of my decision-making, not the outcome of the hand.

“I learned how to handle losses and how to take a front seat in my learning development to position myself best for success.”

Other areas where players felt poker skills could be particularly beneficial in the workplace included negotiating pay rises (40 percent) or having difficult conversations with clients (38 percent).

Of those polled, a higher percentage of women than men (64 percent vs 55 percent) believe poker further developed their abilities to read people.

Similarly, 62 percent of female poker players agreed their decision-making improved through playing the game, compared to 54 percent of men.

Confidence is also a key skill women feel they’ve developed through poker - 54 percent agreed as opposed to 46 percent of men.