They say that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. This is why so many people find the idea of being able to make a living from a hobby so appealing. There’s something comforting about the idea of not having to spend the majority of your life behind an office desk or doing tasks that you don’t necessarily enjoy just so that you can get paid. 

Whether it’s for this reason or because of the luxurious picture that Hollywood movies and pop culture have painted about the lifestyles of professional gamblers, there is a lot of interest in pursuing gambling as a career. The reality is that pursuing something as volatile as gambling professionally as a career choice is something that only a few people actually manage to do successfully. Not because it’s not possible, but because of all of the different steps you need to take, the mental strength and discipline you need, and the strong skill sets you need to have. 

However, for those who decide to take a leap of faith, put in the work, and find a way to make money from casino table games or live dealer casino games, it’s not too far-fetched to build a career in professional gambling. If you’re wondering how to become a professional gambler, look no further. We have all the answers you need and more right here.

What It Means To Be a Professional Gambler

Qualifying as a professional gambler means that you’re making most or all of your income from playing either in-person or online casino games for a living. Many people play for leisure and as a recreational activity. However, when you pursue gambling professionally, it becomes more of a job where your main goal is to profit from the games you play.

One of the first things you look at when you’re applying for a new job is the salary. However, if you’re wondering how much professional gamblers make, it’s not as straightforward as a standard salary package. When you choose gambling as a career, you don’t have a set income – you may have consistent wins one week but, as many casino pros know, that may not be the case the following week. Professional gambling is a route often pursued by people who’ve put in the hours and honed their skills. Better yet, those who have won several tournaments and have titles under their belts may consider professional gambling. But if you’re still uncertain about how to play casino games, professional gambling is probably not the best route for you.

Gambling Games That Can Make a Professional

If you enjoy playing blackjack at a casino, the good news is that it’s one of the popular games that professionals make a living from. Other lucrative games include slot machines, poker, and baccarat.

The Importance of Responsible Gambling

All successful gamblers know that you need to take steps to ensure that your gambling isn’t turning into an unhealthy habit that could cost you a lot more than just your money. Responsible gambling is exactly that – the act of gambling responsibly. Simply put, it means being mindful of your gambling activity and being accountable for your actions at all times. Just because you’re pursuing a career as a professional gambler, it doesn’t mean that you can forego the responsibility that comes with gambling. Whether you decide to gamble for leisure or pursue professional gambling, it’s important to be responsible at all times. Failing to gamble responsibly could leave you in a worse-off position, especially financially and in your relationships with loved ones.

It’s vital that you budget effectively to avoid falling into crippling debt or becoming dependent on loved ones around you.

Budgeting Tips for Aspiring Professional Gamblers

When you’re playing casino games for money, it’s essential to properly manage your money. While you stand to make a lot of money, you also stand to lose a lot of money if you fail to budget for your professional gaming career.

A good way to go about this is having a gambling fund, which is essentially the amount of money you limit yourself to. This will help you better manage your finances and stick to the budget you’ve set out.

You also need to be mindful and strategic in your spending and when placing bets. Don’t depend entirely on luck; as a professional gambler, making calculated moves is key. At the end of the day, you’re dependent on the profits made from your gambling activity, so it’s not just a by-the-way game for you.

Pros and Cons of Being a Professional Gambler

Pros

• You have unlimited earning potential.
• You’re your own boss and work your own hours.
• You can establish yourself amongst the best if you’re disciplined and strategic.
• You have the option to travel and work from wherever you wish because of online casinos.

Cons

• You may have periods of little to no profits.
• You don’t have a set/steady stream of income.
• Maintaining a work-life balance may be challenging.
• Gambling professionally could take the fun out of playing your favorite casino games.

Steps to Take to Become a Professional Gambler

Now, with the option to access your favorite slot machine online as well as other games, you can practice and hone your skills 24/7 – which is important for a professional gambler. Once you decide on this route with conviction, these are the steps you can take to make a living from it.

Pick Your Poison

To get started, you must first decide which game you want to specialize in and pursue professionally. With so many options to choose from (such as poker, blackjack, or bingo), you’re truly spoilt for choice. Picking a game you understand improves your chances of winning and profiting from it in your career.

Learning Your Chosen Casino Game and Studying It Continuously

This may seem like a bit of an obvious statement, but you need to make sure you know how to play the casino game you’re going to specialize in – not just the rules, but all the different scenarios that could happen, how to react to them, the different odds and all of the different variables that casual players aren’t usually exposed to. You’re going to need to study your specialty inside and out to make sure that you’re prepared to make the right decisions at the right moment. 

You’re also going to accept that the learning is never going to stop. The landscape of professional gambling, and casino games in general, is constantly changing. Players are constantly getting better too. So, you’re going to need to commit to consistently staying on top of trends, learning new skills, and improving how you approach the game if you want to keep up with the other players and stand a chance of beating them.

Set a Gambling Fund and Budget

This is an important step to take as soon as you decide to take on gambling professionally. As with any other job, you need to be in control of your finances by sticking to your budget.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Practice is the one sure way to get better at anything. It’s a way to hone your skills and get better. Through practice, you can develop new strategies and discover new tips to improve your gameplay.

Master Your Emotions

If you’re going to take the leap into professional gambling, you need to be able to leave your emotions at the door. Yes, there is a lot at stake, but that is exactly why you need to be able to keep a cool head and make sure your betting decisions are based on logic. If you let your emotions get the better of you, whether it’s anger, anxiety, or even over-confidence, it’s likely going to result in you making an impulsive decision that could really cost you. It’s also important to remember that even the best gamblers lose. So, no matter how frustrating a loss is, make sure you always handle it with dignity and grace and never let your emotions get the best of you. Looking into simple ways to unwind after a game is a good way to minimize your negative emotions and ensure you don’t make impulsive decisions or burn yourself out. 

Expand Your Expertise

With so many casino games to discover, never stop learning. As a professional gambler, the more games you can play, the better. If, for example, you’ve mastered slot machines, you could also learn how to play roulette at a casino to expand your expertise. In some cases, skills from one game are transferable and can be quite handy in another game.

Experience a Variety of Popular Games at Borgata Online

If you’re ready to explore what an online casino has to offer you, then you’ve come to the right place. With a wide selection of online slot machines and other popular casino games at your disposal, you won’t be found wanting. Discover a different kind of thrill when you sign up at Borgata Online.