Poker players will play.. That's there thing. The person who sits with the poker player and plays (whether that player is addicted to gambling or not) has to be responsible for their own actions.If I sit with a very good poker player and lose I cannot question the morality of that player. I have to look at my actions .
Only my opinion.
John

Professional poker players like other professional gamblers have nothing to do with problem and compulsive gamblers except that they are the fantasy of compulsive gambler in denial.
Professional gamblers can walk away
Problem gamblers and compulsive gamblers can't walk away even if we win.
I am in no position to judge any one else's morals.

I used to believe if someone was foolish enough to allow a person or entity to take advantage of them it was their fault and I lacked any sympathy for those people. That was until I was that fool.

In many situations, a casino luring someone into an addiction, a shady investment professional robbing someone of their retirement or an unscrupulous mortgage broker issuing a predatory loan, people are taken advantage of. It's easy to say "well they should have known better." But what does that say about the society I live in?

These days I try not to judge people, even those who may engage in questionable moral activity. I do however carry in my heart a genuine compassion for other people now that I truly understand how someone slips into a disease like addiction. I am not a dummy or a fool. I had some bad things happen to me when I was young that changed how I felt about the world. As I grew older I did not make the connection that how I viewed myself and other people was a direct result of those childhood events. I was suffering for years and didn't know it. Because I was a victim to one predator it made me vulnerable to another. All my life I fought tooth and nail for a false sense of control to protect myself from becoming a victim. I didn't trust anyone. That got me nowhere. In fact I missed out on many things because of it.

In some ways I am grateful for my addiction because it has allowed me insight I never had before. Even before I was a gambler I was never happy. Now that I have clarity I can begin to pursue the life I always envisioned for myself but was too afraid to go after.

So to answer your question is a professional poker player immoral by taking advantage of an addict? It's not up to me to judge them. But someday they will have to answer to a higher power for their activities. Regardless of what religion you believe in, how do you think that higher power would feel about it?

I would say "professional" poker players have the most danger to losing a whole lot more than money. I watch them on TV and all I can think about is how much self-confidence they have playing for that much money and keeping cool under the pressure. Then I read articles on some of the things that go on behind the scenes with these players that main stream TV do not want you to know about. Those professional poker players you see are potentially problem/compulsive gamblers that have too much pride at stake to admit they have a problem. They play EVERYDAY for huge amounts of money - cards get cold...pride comes into play. Yes there are huge swings for them, but when they lose, it is millions.

Just because they are saying they are winning, doesn't mean they are in the black. Also, with professional poker players and the younger generation (21-35) who play cards for a living, I see so many quit college and not build up a work resume that can be used for long term. They take their shot and play into their last dollar and then go back to mom and dad's basement.

Everyone loses when it comes to gambling, even professional poker players, who are least likely to come to grips into it is too late...