Have you ever considered what it takes to become a professional gambler? If you are a seasoned gambler, then the thought may have crossed your mind once or twice, but how hard is it really to be a successful professional gambler? The real question is: What does it take? Professional athletes dedicate their bodies from a young age to become the best of the best, and professional mathematicians spend years sharpening their minds to take on the biggest calculations imaginable. So, it is safe to say that the first steps are to practice and be dedicated, but when is it enough?

Gambling for a living may be any experienced gambler’s dream job but with the thriving growth of online gambling and the lack of taxes on betting wins, turning your long-time hobby into a full-time career is now a reality. You can make a bit of money with the winnings of your gambling, but it’s not always as simple as that. Not everything can be chalked up to luck, persistence and practice. You also need to have specific skills to ensure that you have the upper hand and that you can beat your opponents.

Skills Needed to Go Pro

Highly successful professional gamblers use a variety of skills and personal attributes that very few people have. Just to give you an example, one of the best card players in the world and the person who created card counting is a mathematics professor, a hedge fund manager who also invented the first wearable computer. This man sees maths in an entirely different way to most people, and he uses it to his advantage to win millions. His name is Edward E. Thorp, and his net worth is around $800 million. This man is only one of many professional gamblers out there. Phil Ivey once held the title for the biggest online cash game-winner ever. Going pro at 20, he went on to win $19,242,743 playing online poker; he’s won several poker championships; his net worth is around $100 million, and it’s only going up. Here are just some skills and abilities you’ll need to be at their level.

• You need to handle your money like an accountant with a meticulous record-keeping habit.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Being able to cope with adversity and even loss.
• Maths needs to become your second language.
• Time management skills.
• The ability to manage stress and stay cool under stressful conditions.
• Patience and persistent in the face of overwhelming odds.
• Dedication and always sticking to what you know.
• A powerful mind for memory.
• Nerves of steel.
• Concentration skills.
• Strong emotional control.

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What Comes with Being a Professional Gambler

Don’t be fooled at how easy actors make gambling look in films as gambling has been glamorized as this big bright ‘anything can happen’ place where fortunes are won, and anyone can be a winner. The fact is, a lot of time and focus goes into most casino games. There are rules to follow, and if you know what you’re doing, only then progress will be made.

Working in the gambling and betting industry is just like working in any other job; it has its pros and cons. The one advantage of gambling as a full-time job is you set your own hours. You are the keeper of the timecard; you control when you start and stop. The thing to remember is that your days need to be productive and if you waste time, you waste money. Another great benefit is that you are your own boss; this means you have more freedom and are independent.

The downside is that it’s you on the front lines every day, and it’s your decisions that can make or break a situation. There are guides and sources to help lead you to better decision-making, but ultimately, it’s all on you to bring home the big winnings. The biggest problem professional gamblers have is when the gambling takes over and is in control of you and not the other way around. Remember to take professional gambling just as seriously as you would take any regular job, as it can have serious financial consequences if you don’t treat it with respect. You should enjoy your job while being productive at it; this is a workplace after all, even if it is from your home office. Set strict limits to what can be done and always pace yourself; there is always more work tomorrow. A healthy work-life balance is important.

It’s not exactly easy to be a professional gambler, and many skills and hours go into being a pro, but it’s not impossible. Having a thing for advanced maths and also enjoying making money on your computer is an excellent place to start.