Isn’t it the dream to make a living doing what you love? Ever wonder if it’s possible for you? Well, if you love to play games, gamble, and wager on sporting events, then yes, you can actually make a living as a professional gambler.
But it takes far more work than walking into a casino and trying your luck. Gambling for a living requires research, learning, practice, and an understanding of each type of game before you can expect to win and actually make money.
Wondering how the experts in Vegas do it? Want to know how you can turn your passion for gambling into a career that not only pays for your bills but empowers the life you dream of? Keep reading to find out how to get started today.
Reasons to Become a Professional Gambler
So why would you want to consider leaving a full-time, dependable job in order to pursue professional gambling? Well for starters, gambling is tons of fun. While it’s a challenge and can often be very frustrating, it’s worth it every time you win. The heartache, the upsets, and the feeling in your stomach are all part of the fun when it comes to gambling.
Your job right now isn’t that fun. You might be sitting behind a computer in a cubicle all day, wishing you could be doing literally anything else. Or you might be out there digging holes, fixing toilets, or answering pointless phone calls. Whatever you do, you long for a life of excitement and thrill. When it comes to gambling, every day brings a new challenge and a new opportunity to win.
Plus, with the growing popularity of online gambling, you can play, gamble, and win anywhere that you have an internet connection. This means you can stay home and gamble. Or you travel across the state, country, and even the world, still able to make your wagers anywhere that you can use your computer or smartphone. Talk about benefits.
And as you get good, there is no limit on what you can make. Of course, the risk is, there’s also no limit to what you can lose. But there are ways to mitigate risk as long as you have a level head.
Your current employer thinks your only worth a certain amount of money. And even if you do finally get that raise, it’s likely to only amount to a few extra bucks a paycheck. Not really worth saving away all day for, is it?
Different Types of Gambling
So now that you are interested in gambling for a living, let’s talk about the different opportunities present. A typical casino is loaded with different types of tables, machines, and opportunities to place bets. So are there tons of different ways to play? Not really.
When it comes down to it, there are only two types of games you can play at a casino; skill-based games and chance-based games. Chance-based games are things like slot machines, roulette, or any other type of game where you are playing against the house. You really have no way of increasing your odds.
Every bet you make, or slot you pull, provides the same chance of winning as the last. And people love to play these games because every once in a while, they win.
But casinos let people win once in a while because they know that over time, the house always wins. As a result, you can’t be a professional gambler when playing games of chance. Statistically, you will lose over time and the casino will win. Not a very lucrative career, right?
Still, wondering how to make money gambling? It all comes down to games of skill.
Skill-Based Games
In order to have a chance at making money when gambling, you need to play skill-based games. These are games where you compete with other players, not with the casino itself. The most popular choice for skill-based games is poker. Many people have become professional players, earning a comfortable, or even lucrative full-time living playing the game.
If you can spend the time to learn and become a really good player, you can begin earning a lot of money. Especially since the game is so popular and new players are popping up all the time. It’s those new players, running into it blindly that will be easy to beat and help you start earning money.
It’s also a game that is historically very consistent. Games such as Blackjack had an explosion in popularity, but demand for the game has decreased. There is still money to be made playing blackjack, but with fewer new players coming in, you’ll always be up against the seasoned pros, making it a tough choice.
Sure, there are a few other skill games you could get into to earn money, but none are more popular, lucrative, and global as poker.
What About Sports Betting?
Sports betting is another popular form of gambling that is growing in acceptance across the country. Many states have made sports betting legal, and as such, the business is booming.
It’s kind of a combination of chance and skill-based gaming. This means that there is money to be made consistently if you commit to becoming a winner. It takes a full-time effort to make this work. But if you love sports and can leave emotion at the door, you can do well.
When you get started, it might seem like it’s a game of chance, since you are betting on the house. But actually, you are betting against other players. The house just creates the sportsbook, facilitating the best.
They do their best to get an even number of bets on both sides. So no matter who wins and loses, they stand to make money. Another opportunity to make money in the gambling space is to become a bookie. A bookie is essentially the house. You facilitate the bets and find players to take you up on those bets.
In one sense, it’s gambling. But in another sense, it’s really just math You just need to keep your books balanced.
How to Become a Professional Gambler
To get started gambling as a career, you need to decide which path you are going to focus on. Will it be poker, sports betting, or something else?
After you decide, it’s time to make a commitment. You need to commit to the process. It’s going to be a long, hard, and costly process. But the important part is not to give up at your first sign of failure, or even your 100th sign of failure.
Don’t even think of it as failing. It’s just another opportunity to learn and improve, right? With your game of focus determined, you now need to learn everything there is to possibly know about that game. Treat gambling like any other career path and seek to become an expert.
Read all the books. Watch all of the movies. Find podcasts or experts on youtube to listen to. Find other people that are better than you and spend time playing with them, even if it means losing all the time. You aren’t trying to beat them. You are trying to learn from them.
And of course, set your limits. There is real money to make, but there is also real money to lose. Every game, every bet, needs to be backed with a sensible escape plan. When do you stop? You have to be able to answer that question and you need to be mature enough to follow through.
Starting Small
One of the best ways to get started is to start small. With the rise in online gambling, you can now start placing bets and practicing your skills at lower stakes.
Online casinos often offer lower costs since most things are automated. They save money by not having to pay tons of staff to manage poker tables. As such, you can build your skills without risking much.
There’s a lot to learn, so don’t rush the process. you need to build your confidence as a player. You need to learn the ins and the outs of the game. You need to learn how to manage your bankroll.
All of this takes time, so you might as well do it without risking too much money. Plus, if you get good, you’ll be able to start padding your bankroll, getting ready to play in the big leagues in the near future.
Best Places to Gamble
When it comes to successful gambling, staying on the right side of the law is vital. Unfortunately, it can be quite confusing to do so. Because there is no federal law regarding gambling, it’s up to states to pass their own gambling laws. As a result, some states offer in-person casinos and online gambling.
Others have casinos but no online gambling. And still, other states are against gambling of any kind, such as in Utah or Tennessee. Sports betting is a different topic. But as of 2018, many states have either already legalized it or have proposed legislation to legalize it.
So your first step to becoming a professional gambler is understanding your state’s gaming laws. If necessary, it may require a move to a new state or city. Or you might just need to focus on online gambling. To learn more about the best places to gamble online, visit https://gambling.org to get started.
Just Getting Started
The most important step you can take to become a professional gambler is just getting started. Don’t take years preparing. Rather, get started and take years to practice. Practice, self-control, and intentionality are the keys to long-term success in this realm. Looking for more tips like this? Check out more on our blog today.
