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Re:Crypto firm BlockFi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout s... by alasdair_ on Monday November 28, 2022 @02:57PM (#33778702)
>Only 1 of the BlockFi founders (Flori) has an ivy league degree (from Cornell). Zac is a moron who made his wealth playing poker and through a scam loans startup (Zibby).

It's much, much harder to make millions at the poker table than it is to get a degree from an Ivy.

There have been 141 people that have made over a million in 2022 from poker (https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/7339/2) and that doesn't count all of their losses, staking, etc.

The eight Ivies collectively graduate roughly 75,000 people a year.

Re:Crypto firm BlockFi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout s... by varunprasad on Monday November 28, 2022 @03:08PM (#33778830)
It's also much harder to make millions from the lottery than it is to get a degree from an Ivy. There might be a few hundred winning the lottery every year.

So I'm not really sure what information the statistic that there are about 140 Poker millionaires in a year vs 75k Ivy grads conveys.

Re:Crypto firm BlockFi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout s... by ntr-- on Monday November 28, 2022 @05:43PM (#33780951)
> So I'm not really sure what information the statistic that there are about 140 Poker millionaires in a year vs 75k Ivy grads conveys.

Poker is played competitively both online and in the casinos of every country all over the world 24/7. There are a phenomenal number of players compared to Ivy league students.

Unlike the lottery, it is also largely considered to be a game of skill based on a combination of statistics and social manipulation.

GP is generally implying that because the ratio of players to successful players is so small for a game so widespread that is is very difficult and requires a huge amount of skill to make a significant amount of money playing poker.

Re:Crypto firm BlockFi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout s... by c0m on Tuesday November 29, 2022 @12:29AM (#33784026)
If you have an open mind, I encourage you to look in to poker theory. It's far deeper than you appear to think, requiring a competent understanding of statistics, good mental maths, and an ability to perform under pressure. There's a reason many consistently successful modern poker players have some math pedigree. Many pro players go on to work at trading firms, Jesse Martin and Vanessa Selbst come to mind.

If you do truly think it's no different to the lottery, I'm interested in your explanation as to why these people (a) come from the background they do (a high schooler with decent maths can tell you why the lottery is -EV) and (b) go on to the careers they go on to.

Re:Crypto firm BlockFi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout s... by alasdair_ on Tuesday November 29, 2022 @04:27PM (#33793571)
Many of the same professional players win year after year, strongly implying it's a game of skill rather than luck.

Poker isn't particularly luck-based, especially if you play a large number of hands, as eventually everyone sees the same cards on average.

Also, poker doesn't have legacy admissions - the people that win at poker consistently always deserve their status.

Re:Crypto firm BlockFi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout s... by lightbendover on Monday November 28, 2022 @07:24PM (#33781928)
> It's much, much harder to make millions at the poker table than it is to get a degree from an Ivy.

Zac would never use software to cheat online. That doesn't sound like something Zac Prince would do whatsoever. Not the Zac Prince I know who has always been above board in all aspects of his life. No drugs in the office. No extramarital affairs also in the office. Nothing of the sort. Classy guy all around, Zac Prince.

Re:Crypto firm BlockFi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout s... by hsavit1 on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @12:56PM (#33804664)
Zac did not at all make millions playing poker