The concept of gambling as a form of mental sports refers to the deployment of mental strength in some skill-based games and without physical display of strength or fitness.
Games like Chess, Blackjack, poker and even Sports betting fits in this criterion since professionals employ some good strategies, calculations and even critical analysis before taking the decision on your next line of action. These mental involvements stretch your mind and success in them is a product of strategy, constant practice, psychology and accurate decision under pressure.
i agree that these sports especially Sports betting and Chess which I know very well lies on your ability to use your cognition to analyze and make decisions that either brings success or failure and these strategies are built over time and yes people might want to point out that money is involved, hence possibilities of it acting against mental health and these are why we are advised to gamble with amounts we are ready to loose.
- Mental discipline: Such as analytical thinking, emotional control, decision made under pressure and even training programs since professional gamblers spend time to refine their skills by constant practices and experience just as athletes
If you can successfully manage your emotions in gambling, you are being a professional in it, You can partake in these games as much as you want and not get addicted if you have learned how to set a budget with a discipline not to go above your stipulated budget. The more you engage in skill-based gambling activities, the more you sharpen your mind and also it doesn't consume funds as quick as luck based games since a session can last several minutes or more and you have real fun trying out your skills