Are You A Professional Poker Player?

By: Andrew Poulos, SLC Office Staff

Better question, Do you have what it takes to be a professional Poker Player?

Having spent much of my adult life living in Las Vegas and working in the gaming industry I run across men and women from all walks of life hell bent becoming   “professional poker players”. The truth is anyone who walks into a card room and buys into a poker game is a professional.

I recently ran into an old friend, who is married, has a family, and for the last ten years has enjoyed a six figure income playing poker, including an impressive showing at this years’ World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Can anyone do this? The answer is a resounding   NO!    Hard work, research, and gaining major time playing the game is involved.

While it’s true that some people get extremely lucky, and a forty dollar buy in has gone on to win millions in the Main Event. This is the exception, not the rule.  I have seen many “big winners” sitting on the rail trying to hustle a buy in to get back in action, and worse.  The majority of those individuals that think they have what it takes lose things in their life that they regret they have lost (i.e. possessions, retirement accounts, family and friends).  The bottom Line in succeeding at Poker is not that much different than any other profession.  A passion for the game, hard work and perseverance, are the basics. Throw in some common sense and a little luck and who knows what the outcome could be.