Why You Should Play Poker Professionally

If you’re a lover of action and games of skill, playing poker professionally can be a viable career choice for you. Though many players start out making a modest $10,000 a year, professionals, who put in the work and consistency the profession requires, can make a yearly income of around $1,000,000. If you’re interested in making an income from playing poker, we’ve provided a short list of benefits the profession can provide.

Poker offers work flexibility

If you’re tired of stifling 9 to 5 routines, know that one of the biggest perks that come with playing poker professionally is the flexibility the job provides. Though the job binds you to the available schedules of your chosen poker rooms, you have a lot more freedom to choose when and where you want to work. And with many live poker rooms available, most poker players don’t even need to travel to get work done.

For some, the flexibility might be a downside. This guide to becoming a pro poker player notes that the odd working hours often make it difficult for professional poker players to balance their work and relationships. Therefore, aspiring poker players should understand that the job comes with a commitment to long hours under unpredictable schedules. If you have a partner, they need to be on board with your lifestyle, lest the job put a strain on your relationship.

Poker offers high earning potential

As mentioned earlier, professionals can earn up to seven figures by playing poker in tournaments. A list of the highest-paid professionals shows that they make on average $208,000, which is a mere fraction of what skilled poker players can earn in games. Additionally, professional poker players don’t have to restrict their income to just their winnings. Poker players with large followings might score endorsement deals with big brands, who can provide them a consistent salary.

In terms of financing, poker is more like a business than a traditional occupation. You need to have enough capital to invest to generate a profit, especially since buy-ins at tournaments can get pretty expensive. Therefore, it’s important to get your finances in order before deciding to play professionally. Create a budget plan to make sure you have enough money for your needs and poker-related expenses. It can also help to set aside an emergency fund to hedge against the unexpected.

Poker provides travel opportunities

If you’re planning on playing poker in person rather than exclusively online, you’ll discover that the job offers many opportunities to fly out for tournaments, the biggest and most well-known being the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Poker players may also find themselves traveling to destinations like Macau, Monaco, Barcelona, and even the Bahamas.

The best part is that if you’re skilled enough, your poker agency will cover the cost of your travels, be it travel fees, tournament fees, or accommodations. The greater your skill, the more power you have to bargain for free benefits. Most agencies, however, will require you to clock in a certain number of hours to unlock these privileges. Fortunately, four hours per day, or fourteen hours in a week, is the industry standard.

In summary, playing poker professionally has plenty of benefits from high earning potential to travel opportunities. Such benefits make it an excellent career option for the modern worker.