Me for one. It's not for everyone. When I started to make more gambling, than working, I went for it, but I still spend a lot of time at it.
I wouldn't reccomend it for most. My financial situation is good. I'm cool with 50k a year income, and willing to forgo Social Security, pension etc.
It could fall apart, gov't could regulate it out of business, etc.
I won $3800 today, that's a nice day ! , but tommorow is another day. 100k for year, would be great.
Health insurance is costly also, having none is very risky.
Additionally you risk being considered nearly a criminal, by your closest friends.
Be careful.
Doug
I wouldn't reccomend it for most. My financial situation is good. I'm cool with 50k a year income, and willing to forgo Social Security, pension etc.
It could fall apart, gov't could regulate it out of business, etc.
I won $3800 today, that's a nice day ! , but tommorow is another day. 100k for year, would be great.
Health insurance is costly also, having none is very risky.
Additionally you risk being considered nearly a criminal, by your closest friends.
Be careful.
Doug
I used to play poker, blackjack and bet sports for a living and I was able to make about 40K a year at it, but I had to give it up because of the degenerate lifestyle I was leading. I couldn't identify with fellow poker players as "colleagues" and I started to feel a deep need to do something constructive with my time and energy. It's hard to describe...it's that mosquito or maggot feeling, you know?
Now I divide my time fairly evenly between teaching, proofreading translations and sports betting. It's a definite improvement from before. Of course that's just me. For some people full time gambling is a good way to go.
Now I divide my time fairly evenly between teaching, proofreading translations and sports betting. It's a definite improvement from before. Of course that's just me. For some people full time gambling is a good way to go.
Majority of income every year for the last 13 years has been from gambling, and before that timeframe gambling was just supplemental income.
DOUG- Can relate very closely to your post.
By the way, dont know your age or health condition, but I am 43, in excellent health and thus only pay $40 a month for Blue Cross Catastrophic Health Insurance.
With this plan, Blue Cross pays the ENTIRE cost of any medical costs, including longterm hospital stays, on anything over $10,000 up to a 1.5 million dollar maximum.
I find this is all I need, at least for now.
DOUG- Can relate very closely to your post.
By the way, dont know your age or health condition, but I am 43, in excellent health and thus only pay $40 a month for Blue Cross Catastrophic Health Insurance.
With this plan, Blue Cross pays the ENTIRE cost of any medical costs, including longterm hospital stays, on anything over $10,000 up to a 1.5 million dollar maximum.
I find this is all I need, at least for now.
this is something i ponder all the time,, for now i own a convenience store and gamble from about a 20k bankroll,,,, guess ill consider it supplemental income.... i use only 2 books now online but have 3 locals,, for me its going to be about getting to at least a 100k bankroll and then have some good steady money coming from other businesses.. im going to give myself 4 more years to accomplish this.. then id like to go fulltime..
SubZaero,
The real pros have answered this question many times already:
http://therxforum.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=100090022&f=988094022&m=1783033135
The real pros have answered this question many times already:
http://therxforum.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=100090022&f=988094022&m=1783033135
Fish:
More a comment toward the medical aspect. Speaking from first hand experience, hospitalization is only part of the equation. Heaven forbid that you were to have a long term illness or catastrohic accident that caused you to need nursing care for the rest of your life, $1.5 million wouldn't be enough. Current costs in California approximate $4000-$5000 per month. My father suffered a massive stroke at the age of 56 and was permanently paralyzed, lost all motor skills, couldn't read, write or speak but could fully understand and comprehend everyone and lived 20 years in nursing care. Most people don't protect themselves from this type of situation. I learned the hard way.
More a comment toward the medical aspect. Speaking from first hand experience, hospitalization is only part of the equation. Heaven forbid that you were to have a long term illness or catastrohic accident that caused you to need nursing care for the rest of your life, $1.5 million wouldn't be enough. Current costs in California approximate $4000-$5000 per month. My father suffered a massive stroke at the age of 56 and was permanently paralyzed, lost all motor skills, couldn't read, write or speak but could fully understand and comprehend everyone and lived 20 years in nursing care. Most people don't protect themselves from this type of situation. I learned the hard way.
DougJ , Fishead. How old did you guys start doing this for a living? Curious as to how much you wager on average per game? Do you guys use 'flat' betting system as a way to wager? And what kind of bankrolls do you guys have....?
Sorry for all the questions - but curious -
Thanks for sharing.
Ivan
Sorry for all the questions - but curious -
Thanks for sharing.
Ivan
You call this a living? Pathetic existence is more like it. Wondering when it is all going to end, or change dramatically. Coming from handwritten days, being comped to bet sports, I was pimp daddy high roller, in the suite, blowing 7 bills a weekend worth of comps, from one hotel, using 5 to bet. I was one of the only independants competing against messengers. Now I get box of 70% off cigars. Maintain normal job for non economic reasons. Often hear all of the negatives, professional gambler, hoodlum, criminal, wise guy. People fear you or envy your perceived recklessness. Women want the lavish lifestyle. Got back to back bj's during Bills first superbowl, in hotels nicest room. Bubble bath in the jacuzzi, smokin top o line cigars and every mind altering substance available. Great day until Norwood wide right cost me 6.5K. Now I sit at home, work from home, even bank from home. Guess I have an excuse to go to CR and get some great cigars in person now. My biggest problem, when I start ranting about how I could lose juice waiting and then get hooked by a bad beat, people just stare blankly, like I am speaking Chinese. Only way I make it is to have a lot of diversions, a great bunch of kids and a beautiful Asain wife, 12 years younger than me, to rub me down and pamper me after a long day in the cooker. No bases, gives me about a two month vacation. But this is what I am, what I always have been, and always will be. Best Wishes...OF
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CrAzY Jivin' IvaN:
And what kind of bankrolls do you guys have....?
Sorry for all the questions - but curious -
Ivan<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
_____
Ivan baby, isn't that a little too personal to ask??
Do you think if Fishhead's bankroll is 1.5 million, you think he will tell you and everyone here? Come on ivan baby!!
And what kind of bankrolls do you guys have....?
Sorry for all the questions - but curious -
Ivan<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
_____
Ivan baby, isn't that a little too personal to ask??
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>You call this a living? Pathetic existence is more like it. Wondering when it is all going to end, or change dramatically. Coming from handwritten days, being comped to bet sports, I was pimp daddy high roller, in the suite, blowing 7 bills a weekend worth of comps, from one hotel, using 5 to bet. I was one of the only independants competing against messengers. Now I get box of 70% off cigars. Maintain normal job for non economic reasons. Often hear all of the negatives, professional gambler, hoodlum, criminal, wise guy. People fear you or envy your perceived recklessness. Women want the lavish lifestyle. Got back to back bj's during Bills first superbowl, in hotels nicest room. Bubble bath in the jacuzzi, smokin top o line cigars and every mind altering substance available. Great day until Norwood wide right cost me 6.5K. Now I sit at home, work from home, even bank from home. Guess I have an excuse to go to CR and get some great cigars in person now. My biggest problem, when I start ranting about how I could lose juice waiting and then get hooked by a bad beat, people just stare blankly, like I am speaking Chinese. Only way I make it is to have a lot of diversions, a great bunch of kids and a beautiful Asain wife, 12 years younger than me, to rub me down and pamper me after a long day in the cooker. No bases, gives me about a two month vacation. But this is what I am, what I always have been, and always will be. Best Wishes...OF<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You know you could bring the laptop to the hotel, or something, if you just need to get out of the house but still gamble.
You know you could bring the laptop to the hotel, or something, if you just need to get out of the house but still gamble.
if you can work from 4pm-7pm and make all the right moves and put it out of mind until tommorow you might be on to something.
but from 7pm-1 am youre rooting for this youre rooting for that. not everything is on the line but youre hopeing for a good day its still gambling in a sense you gotta be at that PC to look for half time hedges or moves then sat and sun pops up its all weekend blitz looking at crap from 10 am with action going soon that wont end until about midnight sunday and at that point youd just like to relive the highlights on sportscenter or get smashed to forget everything at that point youre not too amacible to be social.
but from 7pm-1 am youre rooting for this youre rooting for that. not everything is on the line but youre hopeing for a good day its still gambling in a sense you gotta be at that PC to look for half time hedges or moves then sat and sun pops up its all weekend blitz looking at crap from 10 am with action going soon that wont end until about midnight sunday and at that point youd just like to relive the highlights on sportscenter or get smashed to forget everything at that point youre not too amacible to be social.
I guess you have to walk in my shoes to get the cooker. It not about leaving the house/office. You can't bring 3 laptops and 6 screens. But it is the pressure of making every right move, every DB alert, which positions should you get, which ones should you get off, which ones are balanced. Then the halftimes are just a free for all, not much time to think. One bad move or hesitation could cost you severely. Weekends are usually 2 12's for me, especially with football. Can't tell you how many times I have left the computers just for a minute and boom, position completely reversed. After 12 hours of investing, grading, matching results and looking over next day openers, you are just mentally done. I can turn my bankroll over 2 or 3 times a day if I work hard, take cheap positions. Again, I may be scalping, 10 minutes before post is non stop. Maybe middling, betting, hedging, shopping for futures, speculation, the OMNIVOROUS approach. But when I am working, I focus. When I leave, the business stays home. It is not that I am unhappy now, but the perks in the old days were fantasyland for a street punk like me. But you evolve or die off. Just miss the highlife, the easy opportunities, constant line moves, wide open limits. I was even house player for awhile. Just bought a big new house with a jacuzzi in the master so still do my scarface impression. By the time my day is over, it is unwind, usually cigar, brandy, message, jacuzzi, you name it. No socializing, hard to put on happy face and make small talk after living on the edge for 12 hours. It is a cooker, with your own money, you produce or work for free. Training my wife for second set of screens now. Should ease some of the burden. Best Wishes...OF
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by OMNIVOROUS FROG:
I guess you have to walk in my shoes to get the cooker. It not about leaving the house/office. You can't bring 3 laptops and 6 screens. But it is the pressure of making every right move, every DB alert, which positions should you get, which ones should you get off, which ones are balanced. Then the halftimes are just a free for all, not much time to think. One bad move or hesitation could cost you severely. Weekends are usually 2 12's for me, especially with football. Can't tell you how many times I have left the computers just for a minute and boom, position completely reversed. After 12 hours of investing, grading, matching results and looking over next day openers, you are just mentally done. I can turn my bankroll over 2 or 3 times a day if I work hard, take cheap positions. Again, I may be scalping, 10 minutes before post is non stop. Maybe middling, betting, hedging, shopping for futures, speculation, the OMNIVOROUS approach. But when I am working, I focus. When I leave, the business stays home. It is not that I am unhappy now, but the perks in the old days were fantasyland for a street punk like me. But you evolve or die off. Just miss the highlife, the easy opportunities, constant line moves, wide open limits. I was even house player for awhile. Just bought a big new house with a jacuzzi in the master so still do my scarface impression. By the time my day is over, it is unwind, usually cigar, brandy, message, jacuzzi, you name it. No socializing, hard to put on happy face and make small talk after living on the edge for 12 hours. It is a cooker, with your own money, you produce or work for free. Training my wife for second set of screens now. Should ease some of the burden. Best Wishes...OF<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<YAWN>
I guess you have to walk in my shoes to get the cooker. It not about leaving the house/office. You can't bring 3 laptops and 6 screens. But it is the pressure of making every right move, every DB alert, which positions should you get, which ones should you get off, which ones are balanced. Then the halftimes are just a free for all, not much time to think. One bad move or hesitation could cost you severely. Weekends are usually 2 12's for me, especially with football. Can't tell you how many times I have left the computers just for a minute and boom, position completely reversed. After 12 hours of investing, grading, matching results and looking over next day openers, you are just mentally done. I can turn my bankroll over 2 or 3 times a day if I work hard, take cheap positions. Again, I may be scalping, 10 minutes before post is non stop. Maybe middling, betting, hedging, shopping for futures, speculation, the OMNIVOROUS approach. But when I am working, I focus. When I leave, the business stays home. It is not that I am unhappy now, but the perks in the old days were fantasyland for a street punk like me. But you evolve or die off. Just miss the highlife, the easy opportunities, constant line moves, wide open limits. I was even house player for awhile. Just bought a big new house with a jacuzzi in the master so still do my scarface impression. By the time my day is over, it is unwind, usually cigar, brandy, message, jacuzzi, you name it. No socializing, hard to put on happy face and make small talk after living on the edge for 12 hours. It is a cooker, with your own money, you produce or work for free. Training my wife for second set of screens now. Should ease some of the burden. Best Wishes...OF<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<YAWN>
