Crazy Prop: Poker Player Reportedly Staying in Dark Room for 30 Days
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Poker players are known to take on some crazy prop bets to make a few bucks, but the latest reported prop bet might be one of the wildest and most dangerous of all.
According to a Facebook post by Danielle "DMoonGirl" Andersen — later crossposted to TwoPlusTwo by Allen Kessler — a poker player has agreed to a prop bet that calls for him to live in a dark bathroom for 30 days. The bet is to win $100,000 and the player is getting even money, meaning he'd also stand to lose $100,000 if he fails to meet the terms of the bet.
Here are the reported guidelines:
- Individual will stay in an unlit, unlocked room with no human interaction for 30 days
- A refrigerator with ample food and water will be provided, including fresh food delivery and vitamins
- He'll have toiletries, towels, a bed, a paddleball and a Rubik's cube
- No alcohol, sleep aids or other drugs
As to the identity of the brave soul, it remains a mystery as Andersen said she wasn't sure if he wanted to be publicly named.
Poker World Reacts
Prop bets, especially those on the seemingly insane side, always get a strong reaction from the poker world and this one was no different. Dozens of commenters flooded into Andersen's post and the TwoPlusTwo thread to voice their opinions, especially in response to her question as to whether the player was drawing dead to make it through the 30 days.
Nearly 80 percent of respondents to Kessler's poll said they didn't think they could accomplish the feat, and many feared for the health of the player trying to stay in the room. While physical activity will ostensibly be possible even in a relatively small space, the mental toll of long-term isolation could be gigantic.
"This is the most damaging prop bet I’ve ever come across," wrote industry veteran Paul Oresteen.
Nolan Dalla agreed.
"There's nothing either appealing or entertaining or intriguing about this unless one enjoys wagering on acts of torture and potential mental deformity," he said.
Indeed, many psychologists have studied the effects of isolation on the brain and concluded that serious damage can happen even in relatively short amounts of time. A 2008 study reported on by the BBC found "anxiety, extreme emotions, paranoia and significant deterioration in their mental functioning," as well as hallucinations, occurred after just 48 hours.
That study was a recreation of another, which had similar results.
"The researchers had hoped to observe their subjects over several weeks, but the trial was cut short because they became too distressed to carry on," the BBC reported. "Few lasted beyond two days, and none as long as a week."
While most opined they didn't think the player had much of a chance to complete the bet, there were some who thought it doable.
"I love this prop," wrote Circuit grinder extraordinaire Josh Turner. "Personally, I think with the provisions he gets, if his mental game is even close to semi-strong, it shouldn’t be that hard. I think people can and do endure much, much worse with no permanent side effects."
Precedent in 2008
Back in 2008, a somewhat similar bet was undertaken by a Bellagio high-stakes regular who accepted a challenge from Andrew Robl and Alec Torelli to attempt to live in a Bellagio hotel bathroom for 30 days.
The bet, which generated over 50 pages of posts on TwoPlusTwo before thread closure, gave the individual 2-1 odds for an undisclosed sum.
The conditions, however, were far less harsh in that case. That player had limited phone access and portable DVD player, not to mention a lit room. There appeared to be some debate about the conclusion of the bet, but the individual attempting the feat was reportedly paid out if the last few pages of the thread are to be believed.
As for the current reported bet, Andersen wrote that the individual "started a few days ago" and she'd post updates if she heard of any.
