Professional Gambling
I'd think its somewhat like that Tom Paxton tune about a bottle of wine ... "let me go home and start over". Ain't gonna happen but if I could, I'd just focus on getting rich. Nothing helps a professional gambler more than a steady income source.
I'd then choose either Pai Gow Poker or Pai Gow Tiles
Of course, I would have to already be rich, with all the money I would inevitably lose.
Maybe when I'm retired I'll tell people I'm a professional gambler.
I would also be flexible to do anything, which usually is some kind of promotion abuse. It helps to be connected to a group if you go that direction.
Quote: djatcProfessional Blurnsball handicapper
I'm going to be a 43-man Squamish bookie.
Quote: TigerWuA number of years ago I was unemployed for a few months, and the only income I had was from an occasional local poker game where I would win $20-$100 a month. I thought of myself as a professional poker player for that time.
Quote: djatcProfessional Blurnsball handicapper
I'm going to be a 43-man Squamish bookie.
$20-$100 a month lol, you should have kept going. You’d be rich by now 😂
Quote: PokerGrinder
$20-$100 a month lol, you should have kept going. You’d be rich by now 😂
Ha.... it was like a $1-$2 game or something, played mostly for fun.
No way I'd sit down at a real poker table in a casino. It's just not my game.
Poker is not a game. It’s war.Quote: TigerWuHa.... it was like a $1-$2 game or something, played mostly for fun.
No way I'd sit down at a real poker table in a casino. It's just not my game.
2. (Weird answer) Sports betting: Women's professional tennis.
3. Pot-limit omaha, or poker games other than Texas hold'em.
4. Sports betting: any sport where I could get inside info on injuries.
Quote: TigerWuHa.... it was like a $1-$2 game or something, played mostly for fun.
No way I'd sit down at a real poker table in a casino. It's just not my game.
I was just joking around 😊
Quote: LovecompsMaybe this isn't the sort of anger that you might be looking for,, but I'd come up with a system for craps or other games (never mind any mathematical flaws), and sell it/them to others who are eager to believe in them.
Ooh, yeah, I like that idea... I'm gonna steal it. ;)
The real gambling gets done in the stock and real estate markets.
Buy low, sell high.
I may personally disagree with this. Though I have never counted cards, I would imagine though that it would be pretty easy for the casino to catch you. If you are playing without a card and/or non-locally and can easily leave when heat approaches without giving up ID, this may be ok. However if you play with a card, this can come back to haunt you. Not because you may not be able to play blackjack or you may lose a casino, but because you may lose something far worse - your name. I learned this the hard way and made mistakes early on that I can't change. It's no big deal to get backed off counting, but if your players card is taken away, that can hurt you with other opportunities. If you get flyered all over town and suddenly not welcome at a casino you've hardly played at, never found an opportunity, and possibly a lifetime loser at, it hurts you. This is even more true with casino chains. You lose one and often you lose them all. Your name is your most important asset.Quote: TomGIf I was 21 and knew very little about casinos and gambling I would start with blackjack. Do it similar to Zenking. It’s the one game where all the information is easily available. Can start small and keep scaling upwards for a long time. A couple major differences from ZK though. A willingness and drive to find and add new opportunities. Can start with 25-cent 9-5-3-2-2-1 Deuces Wild on day one. And then just keep working to find more and more ways to earn more and more profits. Also find a job with the best, most enjoyable, most relaxing working conditions regardless of pay. It can be hard to be in the workforce and put in enough hours in a casino. It can also be hard to live off the casino without putting in hours in the workforce. So find a way to actually enjoy doing shifts at both places. Also consider Reno or Mesquite instead of Las Vegas
Quote: SandybestdogI may personally disagree with this. Though I have never counted cards, I would imagine though that it would be pretty easy for the casino to catch you. If you are playing without a card and/or non-locally and can easily leave when heat approaches without giving up ID, this may be ok. However if you play with a card, this can come back to haunt you. Not because you may not be able to play blackjack or you may lose a casino, but because you may lose something far worse - your name. I learned this the hard way and made mistakes early on that I can't change. It's no big deal to get backed off counting, but if your players card is taken away, that can hurt you with other opportunities. If you get flyered all over town and suddenly not welcome at a casino you've hardly played at, never found an opportunity, and possibly a lifetime loser at, it hurts you. This is even more true with casino chains. You lose one and often you lose them all. Your name is your most important asset.
I think he means using a card on machines. At low levels it's worthwhile to put some play in places, since you'll be under the radar.
Quote: WizardI think bonus hunting online is still worth doing. Many more sites are open to Americans and have good bonuses.
I would also be flexible to do anything, which usually is some kind of promotion abuse. It helps to be connected to a group if you go that direction.
You responded to a question about becoming a professional gambler that you posted on your Wizard of Odds site were you stated “in my opinion you need a bankroll of at least three times the annual income you are accustomed to”. How did you come up with this figure? Also, please show any math associated with it if you would be so kind.
Also, I cannot get past the I thought that Vegas poker has tons of collusion going on between the players. I doubt that goes on up in the mountains here.
Quote: djatcI think he means using a card on machines. At low levels it's worthwhile to put some play in places, since you'll be under the radar.
What's crazy is that in my original response I said absolutely nothing about using a players card. And then the disagreement comes after admitting zero experience. Either quoted the wrong person, poor reading/skimming skills, or like most of us is just an innate drive to disagree with everything on the internet
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On using a players card on blackjack: I always do and never have a problem because I keep frequency, duration, and max bets fairly low. For a hypothetical early 20s just starting out knowing nothing, I would say use it. A new player should take a little while to move past a $5 to $50 spread and at that level it's rare to get much heat or pushback. And staying at that level for a while to practice and build a bankroll might mean $100,000 to $200,000 or more in total action. Playing rated during that time should be worth at least an extra month of income with very little risk. And can learn comp hustling that has been talked about a lot here, which opens more doors. And once I start slowing increasing max bet, I can constantly be reevaluating the value of playing rated versus playing anonymously.
Poker ... slow n steady. High probability hands. Wait for that slow pitch.
Craps .. hit n run. Fool the variance. High probabability outcomes scenarios.
Primary
Stocks, real estate, venture capital.
However it is quite hard to move up in stakes in live poker. If you are doing butt sex to 1/2 without lube you make about $20/hr.
I'd say you need at least 25k to really play 2/5 with any comfort. So that's gonna take a while unless you live with mom and dad.
Vegas has worse games than many places but a low cost of living and solid comps for poker players. You can get a diamond card and have a healthy meal for free each day. The promos can be good too. Rn the Venetian has one worth $9.00 an hr if you are not clueless and prob $12 if you are at all sharp.
Cons: poker is not a robot game like most other AP. There is a very good chance you do not have the capacity to be very good.
It is also a game with a lot of nuance that takes a lot of time to learn.
Poker is not easy scalable. 10/20 is harder than 1/2. Blackjack vp and sports are just as easy at any limit though you might struggle to get the action you want. But that's better than getting crushed.
Quote: WatchMeWin
Craps .. hit n run. Fool the variance. High probabability outcomes scenarios.
ya almost had a good post there
Quote: RigondeauxIf you are doing butt sex to 1/2 without lube you make about $20/hr.
you might need to stop fasting
Quote: MrVSome might argue that casino gambling is for chumps and small timers.
The real gambling gets done in the stock and real estate markets.
Buy low, sell high.
This.
I was referring to what you said about Zenking. Isn’t he primarily a blackjack counter? I’m just sharing my opinion. I personally don’t see any benefit to using a players card at the tables. Even betting $10 you can get labeled a skilled player and get flyered all over town. You’ll walk into a casino 3 hours away, swipe your card, not do anything at all and suddenly be surrounded by suits.Quote: TomGWhat's crazy is that in my original response I said absolutely nothing about using a players card. And then the disagreement comes after admitting zero experience. Either quoted the wrong person, poor reading/skimming skills, or like most of us is just an innate drive to disagree with everything on the internet
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On using a players card on blackjack: I always do and never have a problem because I keep frequency, duration, and max bets fairly low. For a hypothetical early 20s just starting out knowing nothing, I would say use it. A new player should take a little while to move past a $5 to $50 spread and at that level it's rare to get much heat or pushback. And staying at that level for a while to practice and build a bankroll might mean $100,000 to $200,000 or more in total action. Playing rated during that time should be worth at least an extra month of income with very little risk. And can learn comp hustling that has been talked about a lot here, which opens more doors. And once I start slowing increasing max bet, I can constantly be reevaluating the value of playing rated versus playing anonymously.
What do you get in return? A dollar or two an hour in comps? Maybe a free room? I just don’t think it’s worth it. Others may. You’ll get 5x the benefits and almost 0 heat playing slots. Forgoing the benefits on the tables will translate to longevity on slots. I wish I could go back and change things I did in the past. Now, I’ll gladly pay for that free sandwich if I could fly under the radar and keep my players card.
Not quite true. Kids playing poker for matchsticks is just as 'real' as any other form of wagering. The match stick accumulator may go on to even become a securities speculator or real estate magnate or casino owner (or player), it makes little difference.Quote: MrVSome might argue that casino gambling is for chumps and small timers.
The real gambling gets done in the stock and real estate markets.
Quote: RigondeauxAlso o.o think most of the moneymaker on wall street is by touting
The real money is in front running but we all know that's never done.
Quote: SandybestdogI was referring to what you said about Zenking. Isn’t he primarily a blackjack counter? I’m just sharing my opinion. I personally don’t see any benefit to using a players card at the tables. Even betting $10 you can get labeled a skilled player and get flyered all over town. You’ll walk into a casino 3 hours away, swipe your card, not do anything at all and suddenly be surrounded by suits.
That has never once happened in the entire history of casino games. An extra dollar or two per hour, plus rooms and meals can be fairly significant. Especially for someone just entering a field that has an extremely high failure / burnout rate. And especially when the risk (based on the example you came up with) is near zero.
Quote: WizardI think bonus hunting online is still worth doing. Many more sites are open to Americans and have good bonuses.
I would also be flexible to do anything, which usually is some kind of promotion abuse. It helps to be connected to a group if you go that direction.
You responded to a question about becoming a professional gambler that you posted on your Wizard of Odds site were you stated “in my opinion you need a bankroll of at least three times the annual income you are accustomed to”. How did you come up with this figure? Also, please show any math associated with it if you would be so kind.
Well I guess we will have to agree to disagree on agreeing that you are correct about me being wrong about disagreeing with you.Quote: TomGThat has never once happened in the entire history of casino games. An extra dollar or two per hour, plus rooms and meals can be fairly significant. Especially for someone just entering a field that has an extremely high failure / burnout rate. And especially when the risk (based on the example you came up with) is near zero.
On last weeks episode of GWAE there’s a question starting around minute 20 about forgoing comps to play unrated and playing slots to make up for it. Richard basically concluded that it will probably be ok to play tables rated but don’t think that can’t end up costing you at another casino where you have only played machines and haven’t even walked by the tables. Just my opinion and what I do. Feel free to disagree.
In general I that's absurd as far as I'm concerned. I suppose there are many factors to consider. I have no doubt he was thinking of a few specific situations when he said that.Quote: CasinoCrasher“in my opinion you need a bankroll of at least three times the annual income you are accustomed to”. .
Quote: SandybestdogOn last weeks episode of GWAE there’s a question starting around minute 20 about forgoing comps to play unrated and playing slots to make up for it. Richard basically concluded that it will probably be ok to play tables rated but don’t think that can’t end up costing you at another casino where you have only played machines and haven’t even walked by the tables. Just my opinion and what I do. Feel free to disagree.
They weren't talking about someone betting $10 like in the example you used
Everyone of my back off's have been when I had no more than a $25 bet. Most occurred when I was down. I was once approached by a suit an hour after buying $100 into a limit poker table and told they don't want my action. This was all carded play. I have had 0 back off's while not using a card.Quote: TomGThey weren't talking about someone betting $10 like in the example you used
Quote: SandybestdogEveryone of my back off's have been when I had no more than a $25 bet. Most occurred when I was down. I was once approached by a suit an hour after buying $100 into a limit poker table and told they don't want my action. This was all carded play. I have had 0 back off's while not using a card.
That last sentence proves why your theory of never using a card is complete bullshit. If you ever do get flagged, just stop using a players card and the problem is solved. But still keep the extra $3,000 - $5,000 you earned before that.
There has to be more to this story. Backed off from live poker? Never counted cards, but labeled as a skilled blackjack player?
I have had 0 back off's while not using a players card at the table. It's generally not worth it to play slots without a card. Tables yes, slots no. How are you supposed to know you are flagged until it's too late? My comps were frozen and all offers taken away at one place. I inquired about it. I was told I'm a skilled player at blackjack. I said but I earned those comps playing video poker. They said it doesn't matter, you played blackjack a year ago. At that point I left because it wasn't worth playing the slot promotion without comps. I have the conversation on tape if you don't believe me. I've got a half dozen more stories just like that. It all stems from one place flyering you. So I wouldn't just put out blanket statements to people telling them it's ok to use a card at the table as long as you are betting red chips. Go to a UTH, 3CP, Mississippi Stud table. Put up a $10 bet. Don't put anything on the trips bet and don't put $1 on the progressive. The players will deride you. The pit boss will notice you. The dealer will point out everytime you would have won. You will stick out like a sore thumb and be labeled a skilled player.Quote: TomGThat last sentence proves why your theory of never using a card is complete bullshit. If you ever do get flagged, just stop using a players card and the problem is solved. But still keep the extra $3,000 - $5,000 you earned before that.
There has to be more to this story. Backed off from live poker? Never counted cards, but labeled as a skilled blackjack player?
Again going back to what Richard said. Go in and wear a hat while playing slots with a card. Leave the casino, go back without a hat and play tables without a card. That's what I do now. I can't afford anymore cards getting shut down.
