Safe Poker Guidance
If you have found this article it hopefully means you're looking to make some extra income from playing poker online, you may even be looking to quit the rat-race for good and go full time. I run a small website and poker school and also have been a full time online poker player for four years, playing part time whilst working a regular job for 4 years prior to this. If you are considering playing poker online for a living you might benefit from reading the following.
In lots of ways playing poker online for a living really is just one of the top jobs worldwide:
You will have no Boss.
Nobody to tell you what direction to go, no one to improve your workload because others are incompetent, nobody to suck up to simply because they've been at the company longer than you so they're 'in charge'. As you can probably tell, I do not like bosses. Never have, never will.
You work whenever you want.
No getting up at 6.30am to make it to the office on-time. If you want a day off you take a day off; if you want a week off you take every week off. You've got no boss, you can do just what the hell you like!
You don't necessarily have to pay tax on your earnings.
In the event you are from the UK, one example is income from playing poker is tax-free. (For many of you outside the UK this isn't the situation, your profits are fully taxable by law. Ensure you are fully informed about your tax obligations in terms of professional gambling).
You may work anywhere on the planet.
Have lap-top: will travel! Good invention this internet thing is not it? Personally, I have travelled a whole lot over the past 4 years, lucky me gets to go to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada to name but a few. During the time of writing I am in Buenos Aires. If you have the desire to view the world, playing poker online really does fit the lifestyle like a glove. An added bonus here is that you'll be earning in US dollars (GBPs or Euros too) if you choose to live anywhere where this currency is stronger than the local currency you'll feel that much richer!
You can enjoy what you need to do.
Poker is a great game, it's always throwing up new situations, a new set of challenges to overcome and new opportunities to learn. Sure, there will be occasions when you will not enjoy playing, you would rather be out socialising with the 'regular 9-5ers' but I can honestly state that after all this time I still have a passion for the game. It is not such a bad way to meet people too. You can forge strong links with fellow online players from all over the world. You've got a common interest, you're bound to get along!
Convinced? Thinking of how you definitely will be telling the employer what you really think of him, or her, while you hand over your letter of resignation? Wait just a minute, life as a full-time poker player isn't all a bed of roses, playing for a living isn't for everyone. Read on and you will find out why.
Say goodbye to most weekends and evenings.
Actually, for anybody who is within the UK or Europe you might well become nocturnal. The truth is it's much easier to find profitable games during the night and at weekends. This really is any time a lot of casual players will sit down for an hour or two, many seem to just hate their cash and also are eager to give it away. Even the biggest poker room trusted online poker has far fewer, and far tighter tables through the USA day time than through the evenings.
Your income is unstable.
Even the top players experience long losing streaks, it's unavoidable. These streaks can last weeks, or maybe over a month in extreme cases. It's entirely possible you are going to play near-perfect poker for a week yet still wind up losing money. Not simply do you'll need the bankroll to withstand this you also need the temperament to handle with these swings of fortune, they do happen and it's not fun once they do. It's important therefore to maintain your living expenditures separate from your bankroll, this helps ease the pressure when the fish are feeding on you. Stick to your solid game and you will experience the correction in fortune. Poker is a game of skill, in the long-term luck plays no part in your profits. Providing you are adequately bankrolled you will win back any loses, in fact you are going to win even more.
"Dear Mr Bank Manager, I would like a loan to buy my dream house/car/holiday/bride. I am a professional poker player and my total annual income is $(insert crazy figure here!)".
See how your lender reacts to that! You won't convince too lots of individuals to lend you any money should they find out what you do. If you will be needing to borrow money to make a substantial purchase within the near future think long and hard. For advice on securing loans for pro-gamblers seek a qualified Independent Financial Advisor.
There's a lot to consider if you are thinking about relying on poker for your source of income. Without a doubt the wisest way to proceed is to keep your steady job; play poker as your hobby at first, it's probably best if you give it at least 1 year, probably more. Perhaps you may only manage 10hrs play every week? Over the weeks and months you'll find out advanced skills that can enhance your profits significantly. At the same time you certainly will still possess the security of a regular salary.
