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Dreaming of becoming a professional poker player? This exciting journey requires skill, strategy, a bit of luck, and a lot of practice.
In this guide, we’ll discuss various aspects of this craft, including professional poker player salary, qualities, tips and tricks, and much more. Whether you’re shuffling up at home or eyeing the pot in major tournaments, here’s how you can play your cards right and rise to the top in the competitive world of professional poker.
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What is a Professional Poker Player?
Let’s tackle the questions what is a professional poker player exactly and is professional poker player a job? Well, primarily, it’s someone who plays poker as their main source of income, and often treats the game as both a job and a craft.
Many wonder ‘’How do I become a professional poker player?’’ but aren’t aware of how demanding this can be. A successful, full-time poker player is someone who grew into this role by playing competitively on real money poker sites and in retail casino tournaments.
For some more perspective, becoming a professional poker player warrants a minimum playtime of 100 hours and 20 thousand hands per month. If you can consistently generate positive results then you can consider pursuing a pro poker player career.
In the U.S., there are around 50 million players, but not all of them play competitively. In fact, only a small percentage of that player base are considered (maybe 15%-20%) winners and even smaller (5%-8%) significant winners.
What sets them apart is their big blind win rate, as this is one of the most important metrics for measuring success. For clarity, those who can win 10BBs out of 100 hands are considered significant winners and elite poker players.
Do You Want to Become a Professional Poker Player?
To break even or be barely profitable in this game, you’ll need a win rate of around 3,7-5.5BB/100. That said, anything between 1-4BB/100 is considered a good win rate. However, to succeed in becoming a professional poker player, you’ll need a win rate greater than 5.91 BB/100 (BB = Big Blind) over 5,000 hands. If you can sustain this win rate for nearly 100,000, then consider yourself a truly exceptional poker player.
Clearly, this is something that takes a lot of practice, and many start by honing their skills on free-to-play platforms or popular poker apps, and then transition to real money poker. Taking online courses and reading books written by other pro players also helps, but the best way to learn is through playing.
So, how do you become a professional poker player? The simple answer is through grind and hard work. Staying competitive means constantly studying new strategies, analyzing opponents, and handling high-stakes situations without emotional tilt. It really is a career that demands a thick skin, as well as a strong support system to manage the mental strain.
Determining Your Poker Survival Budget
Most beginner poker players don’t win big right away, and there’s a steep learning curve. In lower-stakes tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $50 to $500, beginner players might earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand if they place high. For larger events, like World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments, prize pools can be in the millions, but entry fees and tougher competition make it challenging.
In order to go pro, your attitude towards money needs to change. Even though this is a potential career path, you are still not allowed to look at it as a source of revenue. So, before you start playing with real money, always ask yourself – what amount of cash you are willing to part with. Don’t view that money as an investment; view it as money spent on improving your skills and having fun. The money you are comfortable losing should be your allocated poker budget.
Calculate How Much You Need to Earn
Once you become good enough, see how much money you can make on average – using the allocated poker budget. Then see to which extent those winnings can cover the cost of living.
According to the cost of living index in the US, a household spends around $67,500 annually, which is $5,625 per month. Of course, depending on where you live and whether you pay rent or not this number can be significantly lower.
We’ve researched various user forums and found out that a good player who participates in $1/$2 No-limit Hold’em games can make $1,000 a month. The amount can go up to $10,000 for those playing 25/50 NLH, but these are of course way riskier games.
In essence, if you want to go pro, don’t quit your day job. Approach it as a viable side hustle or passion project. If you have enough disposable income or a very supportive significant other, you could sign up for high-roller tournaments to test the waters. The most efficient way to test your skills is undoubtedly online play. There, you get to play on multiple tables at once and can easily go through 90, if not 100, hands per hour. This is also a good way to calculate and track your poker hourly rate and see whether you are improving or not.
Nest Eggs, Opportunity Cost, and The Rake in Professional Poker
Learning how to become a professional poker player is a big investment. So let’s discuss the costs you need to cover to see if it’s really worth it.
Nest Egg
Set aside enough money that can cover your expenses for at least 2 to 3 months. In other words, $10,000 – $15,000 – if you need to cover the cost of living in the US for that period. This is your financial cushion – a savings fund that can support you during tough times or if poker income drops. For those looking to become professional poker players, a solid nest egg provides peace of mind, ensuring you’re not forced into risky situations just to make ends meet.
Opportunity Cost
When you commit to poker, you’re giving up time and potential income from other jobs or investments. The opportunity cost here is the income you could’ve earned elsewhere. Weighing this is essential because, unlike regular jobs, poker income is unpredictable, so you need to be sure the benefits of poker outweigh what you’d make in a stable role.
The Rake
Rake is the fee casinos take from each pot, which can add up quickly. Managing costs and picking low-rake games helps protect your bottom line. It’s a good idea to play at rakeback poker rooms that give you back a portion of the rake. For instance, if you’ve spent $500 on rake fees, and the rakeback is 20%, you’ll get back $100. This is an economical approach that can stretch your budget a long way.
Qualities of a Professional Online Poker Player
Since it’s a non-conventional profession, professional online poker players need to be non-conventional people. They need to possess and nurture a certain set of qualities if they hope to make it big.
It’s indisputable that gray matter can take a poker player from good to great. This game is far from just knowing cards. You have to be able to spot patterns and think on your feet. Sharp players will spot when an opponent always raises a bluff or plays timidly with strong hands.
Of course, practice makes it perfect, and online tournaments are an ideal opportunity to keep your mind sharp. On a site like CoinPoker there are tournaments non-stop including freerolls, so it’s a great place to start, and hone your skill throughout your career.
Sign up To Claim 150% Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000
- The main CSOP tournament series guarantees $1,000,000 in prize money
- Low and high-stakes tables are always available, 33% Rakeback
- No KYC process, decentralized blockchain poker
Professional Poker Player Earnings
For many, the greatest incentive to become a professional poker player is simply in the cash. High-level players, especially those in major tournaments like the World Series of Poker, can earn millions in a single event.
For example, Bryn Kenney currently sits first on the Hendon Mob All-Time Money List with live tournament winnings of over a whopping $65 million as of 2024.
However, in the majority of cases, the professional poker player salary isn’t always as grand. On average, professional poker player salaries can range from $50,000 to $100,000 annually, especially for those who focus on online cash games or smaller tournaments.
Challenges of Being a Professional Poker Player
Being a professional poker player comes with its unique difficulties. Here are some drawbacks to consider.
- Winning consistently at poker is more difficult than it seems – It’s important to remind yourself that 70% of players or more end up losing money. Therefore, breaking even or winning small is still a success.
- Lengthy downswings can break even the best players – Even the best players out there face periods where losses outweigh the wins. This requires a lot of mental strength to handle.
- Wealth isn’t guaranteed – Despite the attractive stories of big tournament wins, the truth is the life of a professional poker player is much like any other employed person’s. You’ll have to become comfortable with periods of low earnings and an average salary.
- The fun factor fades – This tends to happen whenever you turn your passion into a career. It can become a tedious routine, just like any demanding job.
Advantages of Being a Professional Poker Player
While challenging, a career in poker offers unique rewards for those who thrive on strategy and independence. Professional players enjoy benefits that many traditional jobs can’t match.
- Flexible schedule and control over your time – Players set their hours, allowing them to work when it suits them best.
- Potential for high earnings in a short period – Top players, like the richest professional poker players, can win large sums quickly in major tournaments.
- Opportunity to travel and play in different locations – From Las Vegas to Monte Carlo, poker pros often get to see the world while they work.
- Freedom from traditional career constraints – No boss, no office, and no rigid schedule make poker a truly independent career.
- Constant mental stimulation and skill development – Poker is a mentally challenging game requiring continuous learning and improvement.
- Unlimited earning potential with skill improvement – As skills increase, so does the potential for higher winnings, which directly ties your income to your personal development.
Considering Poker Coaching
If you truly want to learn how to be a professional poker player, you should learn from the best. While natural talent and self-study go a long way, coaching provides personalized guidance that can help players refine their strategies, improve decision-making, and understand their unique strengths and weaknesses.
Working with an experienced coach can shorten the learning curve significantly, offering insights into aspects of the game that might take years to learn on your own.
For those aiming to turn poker into a career, coaching can also introduce them to advanced strategies and techniques essential for professional-level play. A good coach will offer guidance not only on technical skills but also on the mental aspects of poker, like emotional control, risk management, and resilience during downswings.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a professional poker player is a unique career that will demand all of your dedication, resilience, and strategic thinking. While the journey can be rewarding, it also comes with financial and logistical considerations, such as managing income fluctuations and navigating professional poker player taxes. Staying informed, realistic, and disciplined can help aspiring players enjoy a fulfilling and financially successful poker career.
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Check out some of our other posts that further reveal the topic of poker.
FAQs
What are the key skills needed to become a professional poker player?
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Playing Responsibly
Hopefully, all of this tells you just how hard it is to become a professional poker player and how careful you need to be with your budget. Poker can be both a career and an enjoyable pastime, but only if you play responsibly. Always remember to set limits and play within your means. For more information, visit our ‘’Responsible Gambling’’ page.
There are other relevant sources you should check out, especially if you feel that gambling habits are becoming a problem.
