Fantastic Online Poker Details
If you have found this article it hopefully means you are looking to make some extra income from playing poker online, you might even be looking to quit the rat-race for good and go full time. I run a small website and poker school and have been a full time online poker player for 4 years, playing part-time whilst working a regular job for 4 years ahead of this. If you're considering playing poker online for a living you could take advantage of reading the next.
In many ways playing poker online for a living really is just one of the best jobs on this planet:
You may have no Boss.
Nobody to tell you how to proceed, no one to increase your workload because others are incompetent, no one to suck up to just because they have been at the company longer than you so they're 'in charge'. While 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 per week off. You have no boss, you may do precisely what the hell you like!
You do not necessarily have to pay tax on your earnings.
In the event you are from the UK, for instance, income from playing poker is tax-free. (For many of you outside the UK this is not the case, your profits are fully taxable by law. Ensure you are fully informed about your tax obligations on the subject of professional gambling).
You may work anywhere on the globe.
Have laptop: will travel! Good invention this internet thing isn't it? Personally, I have travelled a whole lot over the past 4 years, lucky me gets to go to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, United States of America and Canada to name but several. 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 the fact that you certainly will be earning in US dollars (GBPs or Euros too) if you decide to live anywhere where this currency is stronger than the local currency you certainly will feel that much richer!
You may enjoy what you need to do.
Poker is a good game, it's always throwing up new situations, a whole new group of challenges to overcome and new possibilities 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 say that after all this time I still have a passion for the game. It's not such a bad way to meet people too. You may forge strong links with fellow online players from all around the world. You have a common interest, you're bound to get along!
Convinced? Thinking of how you are going to be telling the employer what you really think of him, or her, when 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 is not for everyone. Read on and you will find out why.
Say goodbye to most weekends and evenings.
Actually, for anyone who is in the UK or Europe you could well become nocturnal. The truth is it's much easier to find profitable games throughout the night and at weekends. This really is whenever a lot of casual players will sit down for per hour or two, many appear to just hate their cash and are eager to give it away. Even the biggest poker room online has far fewer, and far tighter tables throughout the United States day time than during the evenings.
Your income is unstable.
Even the top players experience long losing streaks, it's unavoidable. These streaks can last weeks, as well as over a month in extreme cases. It's entirely possible you will play near-perfect trusted safe poker for a week yet still find yourself losing money. Not just do you'll need the bankroll to withstand this you also need the temperament to manage with one of these swings of fortune, they do happen and it is not fun when they do. It is necessary therefore to maintain your living expenses separate through your bankroll, this helps ease the pressure when the fish are feeding on you. Stick to your solid game and also you will experience the correction in fortune. Poker is a game of skill, within the long-term luck plays no part in your profits. Providing you are adequately bankrolled you will win back any loses, in fact you will 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!)".
Find out how your loan company reacts to that! You won't convince too lots of individuals to lend you any money if they find out what you need to do. If you certainly will be needing to borrow money to make an important purchase in 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 think about when you are thinking about relying on poker for your revenue stream. Undoubtedly the wisest way to proceed is to keep your steady job; play poker as your hobby at the start, it's probably best if you give it at least one year, probably more. Perhaps you can only manage 10hrs play per week? Over the weeks and months you will understand advanced skills that may boost your profits significantly. At the same time you'll still have the security of a regular salary.