Re: How about your experience in taking part in the same bet with friends?
Is there less human pressure if gambling is conducted in the same place with friends?
Honestly, when I gamble with my friends, I feel there's no pressure, but purely as entertainment. We collect money, and deposit it to one of our 2 favorite crypto casinos (Rollbit & Stake.com), sometimes it's in his account and sometimes it's in mine, we share the bankroll and play it with full fun. When playing alone and losing $100, it's harder than knowing that you only lost $50 and the other $50 came from your friend money.
We don't see each other often, and when we do we call it "gambler quality time" 
It sounds great to be able to share all these feelings and emotions with good friends, overcome the loses together and share the winnings, or spend them in a good dinner together.
I said before that it is important the kind of friends you gamble with, and I'm happy to know that you are so privileged MAAManda.
This reminds me... I'm very bad at poker, but I'll think about joining the next competition held in the forum, because even if I lose, I think that it can be an entertaining experience with virtual friends, but friends after all.