DiscoverRisky Business with Nate Silver and Maria KonnikovaWSOP Kickoff, Crypto ETFs, and Airfare Refunds
WSOP Kickoff, Crypto ETFs, and Airfare Refunds

WSOP Kickoff, Crypto ETFs, and Airfare Refunds

Update: 2024-05-30
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This episode of Risky Business, a podcast about making better decisions, kicks off with hosts Maria Conocova and Nate Silver discussing their arrival in Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker. They share their top three tips for navigating the high-stakes tournament, emphasizing the importance of self-care, bankroll management, and mental game. Maria's top tip is to prioritize self-care, including sleep, exercise, and healthy eating, while Nate emphasizes the need for strict bankroll management and avoiding negative expected value situations. They also discuss the recent approval of an Ethereum ETF by the SEC, analyzing its significance in the broader political context and its potential impact on the upcoming election. The episode concludes with a discussion about new Department of Transportation regulations governing compensation for flight delays, exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks of these regulations from both an emotional and a game theory perspective.

Outlines

00:00:00
World Series of Poker Tips

This Chapter discusses the importance of self-care, bankroll management, and mental game in the context of the World Series of Poker. Maria emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-care, including sleep, exercise, and healthy eating, while Nate stresses the need for strict bankroll management and avoiding negative expected value situations. They also discuss the importance of mental game and managing emotions under pressure.

00:18:54
Ethereum ETF Approval

This Chapter explores the recent approval of an Ethereum ETF by the SEC, analyzing its significance in the broader political context and its potential impact on the upcoming election. The hosts discuss how the approval could be seen as a strategic move by politicians to appeal to a growing crypto-voting bloc.

00:28:00
Flight Delays and New Regulations

This Chapter delves into the hosts' personal experiences with flight delays during Memorial Day weekend and discusses new Department of Transportation regulations governing compensation for passengers under various circumstances. They explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of these regulations, considering both emotional and game theory perspectives.

Keywords

World Series of Poker


The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the most prestigious and largest poker tournament series in the world. It is held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada, and features a variety of events with different buy-ins and formats. The WSOP is known for its high stakes, competitive atmosphere, and the opportunity for players to win significant prize money. It is a major event in the poker world and attracts players from all over the globe.

Ethereum ETF


An Ethereum ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of investment fund that tracks the price of Ethereum, a cryptocurrency. It allows investors to gain exposure to Ethereum without having to directly purchase the cryptocurrency. The approval of an Ethereum ETF by the SEC is a significant event in the cryptocurrency space, as it provides a more accessible and regulated way for investors to participate in the market.

Flight Delays


Flight delays are a common occurrence in air travel, often caused by factors such as weather, air traffic congestion, mechanical issues, and crew shortages. They can be frustrating and disruptive for passengers, leading to missed connections, lost time, and inconvenience. The Department of Transportation has implemented new regulations to address flight delays and provide compensation to passengers.

Degenerate Gambler


A degenerate gambler is a person who gambles excessively and often recklessly, often to the point of causing financial and personal problems. The term is often used in a humorous or affectionate way, particularly within the gambling community. It is associated with a high appetite for risk and a willingness to pursue gambling activities even when the odds are stacked against them.

Bankroll Management


Bankroll management is a crucial aspect of gambling, particularly in poker. It involves setting a budget for gambling activities and sticking to it, regardless of wins or losses. Effective bankroll management helps to minimize financial risk and ensure that players can continue to participate in the game without jeopardizing their financial stability.

Mental Game


The mental game in poker refers to the psychological aspects of the game, including emotional control, focus, and decision-making under pressure. It is a critical component of success in poker, as players need to be able to manage their emotions, maintain focus, and make sound decisions even when faced with challenging situations.

Expected Value


Expected value (EV) is a concept in probability and decision theory that represents the average outcome of a decision or event over a large number of trials. It is calculated by multiplying the value of each possible outcome by its probability and summing the results. In gambling, EV is used to determine whether a particular bet or decision is likely to be profitable in the long run.

Hedonic Value


Hedonic value refers to the pleasure or satisfaction derived from an experience or product. It is a subjective measure that varies from person to person and is influenced by factors such as personal preferences, cultural norms, and individual experiences. In decision-making, hedonic value can play a significant role, as people often choose options that provide them with the most pleasure or satisfaction, even if they are not necessarily the most rational or logical choices.

Prisoner's Dilemma


The Prisoner's Dilemma is a classic game theory scenario that illustrates the challenges of cooperation in the face of self-interest. It involves two individuals who are suspected of a crime and are interrogated separately. Each individual has the choice to cooperate with the authorities or defect. The outcome of the game depends on the choices made by both individuals, with the best outcome for each individual occurring when they defect, even though this leads to a worse outcome for both of them collectively.

Q&A

  • What are Maria and Nate's top three tips for navigating the World Series of Poker?

    Maria's top tip is to prioritize self-care, including sleep, exercise, and healthy eating. Nate emphasizes the need for strict bankroll management and avoiding negative expected value situations. Both agree that mental game and managing emotions under pressure are crucial.

  • What is the significance of the Ethereum ETF approval by the SEC?

    The approval is a major event in the cryptocurrency space, providing a more accessible and regulated way for investors to participate in the market. It is also seen as a strategic move by politicians to appeal to a growing crypto-voting bloc, particularly younger voters.

  • How do the new Department of Transportation regulations governing compensation for flight delays affect passengers and airlines?

    The regulations aim to provide passengers with more transparent and standardized compensation for flight delays. While this could benefit passengers, it could also lead to airlines taking potentially unsafe measures to avoid paying out large fees.

  • What is the Prisoner's Dilemma and how does it relate to the discussion about flight delays?

    The Prisoner's Dilemma is a game theory scenario that illustrates the challenges of cooperation in the face of self-interest. It relates to flight delays because airlines may have an incentive to exaggerate delays or avoid compensation, even though this could ultimately harm the industry as a whole.

  • How does the concept of hedonic value influence decision-making in the context of flight delays?

    Hedonic value refers to the pleasure or satisfaction derived from an experience. In the context of flight delays, passengers may prioritize their emotional well-being and desire for compensation over a purely rational approach to decision-making.

Show Notes

Nate and Maria are in Vegas for the first week of the World Series of Poker. On today’s show, they share their top tips for acing the World Series, explain the politics behind last week’s approval of a new kind of crypto ETF, and unpack new rules for airline delays.

Further Reading:

“SEC Unexpectedly Expedites ETH ETF w/ Eric Balchunas” from Galaxy Brains

“Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Rule Requiring Automatic Refunds of Airline Tickets and Ancillary Service Fees” from USDOT

To Buy Into Maria’s WSOP Action:

Visit “StakeKings” 

Or “PokerStake” 

For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters:

“The Leap” from Maria Konnikova

“Silver Bulletin” from Nate Silver

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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WSOP Kickoff, Crypto ETFs, and Airfare Refunds

WSOP Kickoff, Crypto ETFs, and Airfare Refunds

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