Last Updated on January 25, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco
Can such a harmless, simplistic, and novel card game, such as Solitaire, actually have disadvantages and drawbacks? Sadly, yes. All games come with their own set of drawbacks, and Solitaire is no different.
Despite being around for many centuries and having many known benefits, Solitaire isn’t completely harmless. In fact, many would argue “it is a total waste of time”, “a distraction that leads to non-productivity”, and “a childish past-time for grown adults”. Others claim it can even cause addiction to gambling!
There are, after all, two sides to any coin. Solitaire may be one of the most recognizable and popular card games in the world, but with this popularity and fame come drawbacks that one needs to remain wary of. This is why we have compiled a list of 16 disadvantages and drawbacks of playing Solitaire that you probably weren’t aware of!
1. A Plausible Cause For Gambling Addiction
Solitaire games are harmless if you play once in a while. However, if you find yourself playing the game far too often, you may have developed a mild addiction. This is often one of the largest criticisms aimed towards any card game; they have a tendency to manifest into gambling addictions.
Gambling addiction is an actual mental illness that requires treatment. It is best to stay away from spending an excessive amount of time with a deck of playing cards as it can become habitual. If you find yourself wanting to play Solitaire or other card games whenever you get a chance, try to refrain from doing so. There are, after all, many other ways to keep the mind and body busy.
2. Gaming Addiction
You may assume that gambling and game addiction are identical things; however, they’re not. What if you’re simply enthusiastic about enjoying the sport regardless of whether cash (or something of value) is involved or not? This isn’t gambling, but rather a gaming addiction.
Playing cards isn’t always a bad thing, but it’s unhealthy if you can’t stop playing and keep coming back for more while ignoring other responsibilities.
3. Boring And Repetitive
Solitaire might become tedious for some people. I mean, sure, it is extremely fun to play once in a while, but if you spend most of your time playing Solitaire, you will find it becomes boring and repetitive quite quickly.
4. An Easy Way To Waste Time
Solitaire has that convenience factor of always being there when you need it. Takes less than five seconds to boot the game; it is free to play and comes pre-installed with most operating systems.
However, it can be argued that the time spent playing Solitaire, or any other card game for that matter, could be better spent doing something productive? Do you agree?
5. Cheating And Scheming
Who doesn’t like winning? But winning is addictive too. Seeking to win by any means necessary can result in the improvement of numerous techniques and skills in order to triumph over your opponent.
However, if you get obsessed with winning, it can result in one dwelling upon new devious ways to dupe opponents.
This can manifest into what is called ‘a cheating mentality’.This is a very intriguing concept and is often associated with card games that have an element of gambling. Some human beings genuinely cheat just for the sake of cheating!
6. A Mind-Numbing Activity
Solitaire can have a significant intellectual impact on players. However, play it for too long with complete focus and attentiveness, and you will find your mind quickly becoming numb and lethargic, only focused on playing the next game.
This phenomenon is often referred to by card players as “being on autopilot”. The player is so engrossed in the game that they can quickly become unaware of their surroundings. Many people consider this to be a damaging behavior caused as a result of playing too many card games.
7. Developing Bad Habits
Many Solitaire players find themselves struggling when trying to avoid playing cards. It appears to be a fun pastime at first, but it quickly expands into much more.
Playing cards have become a way of life for some individuals, which can result in forming bad habits and destroying personal relationships.
8. Limit On # Of Players
Solitaire is usually a single-player game that doesn’t encourage one to socialize or learn to play as a team. Sure, it is a great way to kill some personal time, but if you are playing Solitaire while around a group of friends, you are probably being anti-social.
9. Encouraging Violence
When a card game does not go one’s way, it can sometimes leave players upset, which can instigate conflicts. Let’s be honest; we have all seen western movies where players have resorted to shooting one another after facing a loss. Some of us just hate to lose!
However, if unchecked, these feelings of irritation and frustration can quickly build up, ultimately leading to a potentially violent outbreak.
10. Increasing Stress
Surprisingly, playing cards may be both peaceful and stressful. If you are sensitive to losing, it is definitely more stressful than peaceful. However, if you’re a bitter loser, well, that is worse as you may linger on that defeat all day.
This not only reduces productivity but also has a detrimental effect on your body and mind. Stress!
11. Playing Solitaire May Lead To Obesity
Playing cards do not give you any form of workout. If you wish to play a game that will get you moving, choose a sport-related game like soccer, basketball, or even table tennis. Anything that actually gets your body moving and active. If all you do is sit around playing cards all day, you will most likely not burn enough calories and will begin to gain weight.
12. A Competitive Game
When the losing player is unable to manage their emotions, playing cards can create an unnatural sense of competitiveness. If you have a competitive disposition, you will most likely dispute and challenge your way through a game over and over again.
13. Causing Frustration – As Chances Of Winning Are Low
While most Solitaire games require a bit of skill and strategy, a win is sometimes determined by chance. You need to learn to accept that sometimes you’re just having bad luck, and there isn’t much you can do about it. However, it is easier said than done, as for most card-playing enthusiasts, that is a hard pill to swallow.
14. A Waste Of Money And Resources
Some people gamble with cards, which may result in enormous sums of money being lost. If you play cards for money on a regular basis, you will almost certainly lose. Always remember, the house always wins.
Even if you are losing out on only tiny sums of money, it can all add up, resulting in significant negative impacts on your finances. If you don’t want to spend money, play games on which others don’t want to bet.
15. Can Cause Rifts In Relationships
It is very easy to be so engrossed in a game of cards that you tend to forget or ignore the world around you. Staring at your computer screen or your phone, playing Solitaire, instead of spending time or talking to your significant other, can cause rifts in any relationship as the other person may feel completely ignored or unwanted.
16. Triggering Health Problems
Playing Solitaire has its own set of benefits, but it can also cause physical health concerns. Anxiety and despair can be brought on by playing cards.
If you become hooked on playing cards, you may develop further health issues such as insomnia and gambling addiction! Not to mention back pain, sore eyes, and obesity issues caused as a result of excessive playtime.
Final Thoughts
Who would have thought there could be so many drawbacks to playing Solitaire? Well, let’s be honest, most of these drawbacks mentioned are for extreme cases, but that doesn’t mean you can take them lightly. It doesn’t take long to form an addiction to something, and playing cards is certainly addictive.
Next time you boot up a Solitaire session, be wary of these drawbacks. However, if you are playing recreationally or only when you have a few minutes off at work, these drawbacks don’t really pertain to you.
This article was co-authored by our team of in-house and freelance writers, and reviewed by our editors, who enjoy sharing their knowledge about their favorite games with others!
JC Franco
JC Franco serves as a New York-based editor for Gamesver. His interest for board games centers around chess, a pursuit he began in elementary school at the age of 9. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Mercyhurst University, JC brings a blend of business acumen and creative insight to his role. Beyond his editorial endeavors, he is a certified USPTA professional, imparting his knowledge in tennis to enthusiasts across the New York City Metropolitan area.