Yes, it is possible to turn gambling into your main source of income. However, it requires a lot of dedication, discipline, and skills.
Have you ever thought about becoming a professional gambler? Maybe after a particularly successful game, when you realised you would actually love to make a living doing what you enjoy.
A lot of movies and other media portray the life of a professional gambler as chic and full of adventures. The thing is, in real life it is all about discipline and hard work — much like any other profession.
The good news is that while becoming a professional gambler is not as easy as movies would make it seem, with enough determination it is quite possible to achieve. In this article we will dive deep into practical tips on how to be a professional gambler and what you should be considering when choosing this career path.
There is a common perception that anyone who is good at a gambling game and regularly wins is a professional gambler. But if you play with your buddies every second Friday or even spend a couple of hours every day at an online casino, you are still a recreational gambler, no matter how well you play or how often you win.
The main difference between a pro and an amateur gambler is that for a professional gambling is their only, or at least main, source of income. This difference reflects in various aspects of how they approach the game.
Professional gamblers apply a different mindset to the game. For them, it is a business, which means they build strategies, don’t take risks for the sake of risk, and even do accounting. Most importantly, they dedicate a lot of their time to the game. And they don’t just play, but study new strategies, odds, and statistics because just like any other profession, gambling requires permanent improvement of skills.
Dig deeper: How to Make Money Gambling Online
As we mentioned above, besides being good at a gambling game, there are a lot of aspects to work on if you want to build a career in professional gambling. If you are wondering how to be a professional gambler, the steps below will be a good starting point.
You will come across some famous professional gamblers who excel in two or more types of gambling. But before you reach that point in your career, it is recommended to pick one gambling activity that is closer to your interests or that you are good at and hone it to perfection. This will help you focus on improving your skills while also mastering the business and psychological sides of being a professional gambler.
If you are not sure which game to choose as your professional career, take a look at the table below that compares various gambling activities.
| Activity | Skills | Suits you if |
| Poker | Thinking several steps ahead, adapting strategy, reading body language, bluffing | You are good at math, can analyse odds, have strategic thinking, can be flexible with your approach, can read people |
| Blackjack/casino games | Quick decision making, good memory, operating under pressure | You perform well in a fast paced environment, have a good visual memory, prefer simple rules |
| Sports betting | Trend analysis, stats analysis, understanding sports | You have a deep knowledge of your chosen sports, know how to analyse stats and historic data, understand odds |
| Sports trading | Quick decision making, operating under pressure, understanding sports | You have trader skills, good timing, understand how odds fluctuations work, perform well in a fast paced environment |
Expecting to win six figure amounts per session at the start of your career is not only unrealistic, it can significantly damage your bankroll and your professional path as a gambler. Set modest goals that are based on the size of your starting bankroll and your skill level. Always finish the game as soon as you reach your goal.
Same goes for your maximum losing amount. Set a limit that you can afford to lose in one session. Once you have reached that limit, stop the game even if you haven’t reached your winning goal yet.
Treat gambling as a long term investment. Instead of risking all at once, build your bankroll gradually.
In the heat of the game, it is easy to get emotional. Be it the exhilaration after a winning streak or devastation after losing big, don’t let your emotions get ahead of you.
In both situations be gracious to other players or casino dealers. Most importantly, don’t feel that you have to chase your losses or that you are invincible and can’t lose. Knowing when to stop is one of the most crucial skills you will have as a professional gambler, and it should never be based on your emotions.
Now that gambling has become your main source of income, you should treat it like you would any other business. This can be broken down into several points:
One of the things working in your favour is that the digital era brought plenty of tools that can help professional gamblers optimise their game and manage their budget better. Some of these are specific to the gambling activity you have chosen, like the poker odds charts, but others are universally useful for any gambler.
Bankroll management system: This can be as simple as a spreadsheet document or even an old school accounting book or as sophisticated as the latest available app. Such systems determine how much you should bet and what the current standing of your budget is.
Odds calculator: Some seasoned gamblers can calculate the odds as they play, but to make your life easier, especially in the beginning of your career, you can use one of the many available odds calculators to help you determine whether you should take the next bet.
Simulation software: You can input any possible scenario into such software, and it will give you the expected outcome. They are especially useful for poker games, where you can see what results playing a specific hand in any possible way can bring.
Gambling type specific tools: From poker cheat sheets that show you optimal playing hands to alert software that notifies you of sports events that may affect the result of the match, such tools help you stay on top of all developments and focus during the game.
Educational materials: The world of gambling keeps evolving as anything else, and so should you. When you aren’t engaged in gambling activities, read books and articles, watch games of experienced players, study odds, listen to podcasts to improve your skills and keep them sharp.
Forum memberships: Find a like minded community and become a member. This is a good source of support from people who understand what you are doing. You can ask questions, exchange ideas, and learn from others, while also sharing your expertise.
Luck will always be a part of any gambling activity. However, relying on luck, your gut, or game patterns won’t bring you a lot of positive results, especially not in the long run.
Design a strategy that builds off your strengths as a player and helps you minimise the losses, maximise the value of a winning hand, and capitalise on your opponents’ weaknesses.
If you want to become a successful professional gambler, always stay abreast of all the developments in your field. Be it seasonal transfers in the football leagues, new strategies in poker or other casino games, or even a new optimised simulation software that works faster and is more accurate, if it affects your specific gambling activity you should know about it.
For this, get into the habit of regularly checking platforms that provide timely and accurate information regarding the developments of your chosen gambling activity. This will help you make better informed decisions when you gamble and also give you an edge over your opponents who don’t do that.
As a professional gambler, you need to be focused, know how to make a decision in the moment, and stay clear headed when under pressure. You also need to be patient and prioritise long term goals. Most gambling games require analytical skills and strategic thinking.
All these traits can be worked on and developed through discipline. Keep working on them until they become your second nature.
When you are not engaged in gambling activities, you should still be working on your skills. The best professional players know that no matter how good you are, you always benefit from practicing. A good routine is to combine studying with playing time to make sure both your theoretical knowledge and practical skills stay in their best form.
In the UK, both recreational and professional gambling are fully legal activities. This means that any adult of legal age (18 years old or higher) can engage in regulated gambling. At the same time, profits received from gambling aren’t subject to taxing. This, however, may be different if you play in an offshore gambling establishment, so it is always a good idea to consult an accountant.
Tax regulations on gambling profits vary in different countries, as do regulations on professional gambling. Make sure you have thoroughly researched the matter before you turn gambling into your full time career.
Dig deeper: How to Make Money Gambling Online
Professional gamblers in the media are almost exclusively portrayed as poker players. But you can become a professional gambler even if your interests lie with a different game.
Professional gambling comes with its own set of pros and cons. Consider them carefully when making a decision. If any of the advantages and especially disadvantages of being a professional gambler can be a dealbreaker for you, this will greatly affect your career development.
Most professional gamblers don’t become public figures but some names do get into the limelight for their expertise or spectacular wins. If you want to become a professional gambler, taking a leaf out of their books, studying their games, and listening to their recommendations could be a good step towards your dream career.
Known in the gambling world as The Lizard, Tony Bloom made a name for himself through sports betting and online poker. While he is yet to earn a title in any major poker tournament, Bloom is considered one of the most successful gamblers. The fact that he owns the Brighton & Hove Albion football club of the Premier League supports that assumption.
Daniel Negreanu has long become a household name in poker. He holds multiple titles, including seven bracelets in World Series of Poker, and is considered one of the most successful professional poker players in the world. Negreanu has also written several books that are often recommended for poker players who want to improve their skills.
Zeljko Ranogajec’s main areas are horse racing and blackjack, though he is reported to have participated in keno as well. Ranogajec is a very reclusive person with very few interviews or public appearances. He is estimated to be worth several hundred millions dollars and he is often called The King of Gambling. In 2011, he was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
With 11 World Series of Poker bracelets to his name, Phil Ivey holds his well deserved place among the most famous and most successful poker players in the world. His first major win at WSOP happened in 2000, when Ivey was only 23. He plays both cash games and tournaments but is especially known for his cash game expertise.
Vanessa Selbst is here to prove that in the male dominated world of gambling it is quite possible for a woman to become a professional gambler and reach the top. Selbst holds three World Series of Poker bracelets and is the only woman who achieved the number one ranking in the world on the Global Poker Index.
If you are thinking of becoming a professional gambler, it means your chosen type of gambling will be your main source of income from now on. Life of a gambler may seem like a very easy and luxurious one, but in reality it requires a lot of discipline, focus, and constant working on your skills.
Being a professional gambler also requires a particular mindset. You need to be mentally prepared not only for the wins but also for inevitable losses, as well as long irregular hours that will at some point take a toll on your social life.
Before you make a final decision, we advise you to weigh all advantages and disadvantages life as a professional gambler can bring you. And whatever decision you take, remember that, if not treated with care, both recreational and professional gambling can lead to burnout and addiction. As soon as you notice alarming signs, don’t hesitate to seek help.
Yes, it is possible to turn gambling into your main source of income. However, it requires a lot of dedication, discipline, and skills.
Most professional gamblers prefer to keep it to themselves when it comes to discussing their earnings. That’s why it is rather difficult to rank them in terms of their incomes. According to estimates, some of the most famous and successful professional gamblers have achieved significant financial heights.
Yes, gambling is a legal activity in the UK. For now, the laws regulating gambling don’t make a difference between recreational and professional players. If you play on licensed and regulated platforms or land based institutions, your activities are fully legal.
This will entirely depend on your country of origin as well as the place where you play. UK citizens don’t have to pay taxes on their winnings regardless of whether they play recreationally or professionally. However, if they win while playing in a country where gambling activities are subject to taxing, they may have to pay. In any case, it is always a good idea to consult an accountant for your specific situation.
We inform you that this website uses cookies. To consent, click the ‘Agree’ button or continue browsing. To learn more about our privacy policy, click here.
