[coderintherye]

The poker player is providing entertainment for others.

It's really not much different than working on a company backed by a rich investor where the CEO skillfully plays their cards to maneuver more money out of the rich fish while the other players also try to get what they can out of them.

[watwut]

Poker players search for weak opponents to extract money from them in games where no one watches.

That is the income of full time poker players.

[zone411]

> The poker player is providing entertainment for others.

Yes, and the top earners in poker aren't always the best players, but rather skilled players who have some personality instead of putting on headphones and grinding and get invited to lucrative private games.

[nadermx]

till you don't

[bluecalm]

Entertainment is much better for recreational players without pro players in the game maybe with the exception of occasional tournament celebrity. Pro poker player doesn't provide anything to anyone with the exception of a challenge to other pro players.