Is anyone reconsidering decision to play poker professionally?

[mlagoo]

[ QUOTE ]
why not?

[/ QUOTE ]

i think mostly because of the universal health care thing, but apparently its pretty difficult for an american citizen to become a canadian citizen

[yellowdoyle]

i tried to qualify as a productive worker for canadian immigration. i only got 50 points outta 100, 67 was needed to pass. you get 18 points for proper capitalization though. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] i really wanted to go to canada too.

[FortunaMaximus]

You don't actually need to become a citizen to stay here. You can visit for long stretches of time, rent a place to live, get and pay utilities, etc.

It's far easier for students transferring from the US, and you can get a student work visa while at school here, if that's necessary to pay the costs you have while up here The work permits aren't necessary for on-campus jobs though.

You should be law-abiding, have the funds to support yourself, etc.

We're pretty soft on soft drug possession, however for hard drugs, the legal system is pretty strigent.

Gasoline costs are a bit higher than they would be in the US, yeah. Cigarettes too. But food and day to day expenses are comparable to most states.

Violent crime's pretty low, there's less of the whole inner city/suburbia demographics aspect you get in some US cities. Gated communities are pretty much non-existent here, for instance.

Some of our inner cities have an element of nastiness, and there are bad neighborhoods, but even those are pretty safe.

So for those of you in school wanting to transfer, we have some pretty decent schools. For those just wanting a place to stay and play online poker, etc. Just go about renting like you would in the States, and make sure you visit home every once in awhile. It's suggested you visit your consulate and register if you plan to visit for longer than 90 days. Health care won't be free, you will be billed for emergency visits, but I'm fairly sure you can get health insurance packages or travel insurance if you're visiting.

We do have pretty open immigration policies, but you do have to jump through some hurdles to obtain citizenship. It's not required to stay here though.

Hope that helps a bit.

[cameronw01]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why not?

[/ QUOTE ]

i think mostly because of the universal health care thing, but apparently its pretty difficult for an american citizen to become a canadian citizen

[/ QUOTE ]

Apply as a refugee. Go political prisoners!

[Quanah Parker]

[ QUOTE ]
You don't actually need to become a citizen to stay here. You can visit for long stretches of time, rent a place to live, get and pay utilities, etc.

It's far easier for students transferring from the US, and you can get a student work visa while at school here, if that's necessary to pay the costs you have while up here The work permits aren't necessary for on-campus jobs though.

You should be law-abiding, have the funds to support yourself, etc.

We're pretty soft on soft drug possession, however for hard drugs, the legal system is pretty strigent.

Gasoline costs are a bit higher than they would be in the US, yeah. Cigarettes too. But food and day to day expenses are comparable to most states.

Violent crime's pretty low, there's less of the whole inner city/suburbia demographics aspect you get in some US cities. Gated communities are pretty much non-existent here, for instance.

Some of our inner cities have an element of nastiness, and there are bad neighborhoods, but even those are pretty safe.

So for those of you in school wanting to transfer, we have some pretty decent schools. For those just wanting a place to stay and play online poker, etc. Just go about renting like you would in the States, and make sure you visit home every once in awhile. It's suggested you visit your consulate and register if you plan to visit for longer than 90 days. Health care won't be free, you will be billed for emergency visits, but I'm fairly sure you can get health insurance packages or travel insurance if you're visiting.

We do have pretty open immigration policies, but you do have to jump through some hurdles to obtain citizenship. It's not required to stay here though.

Hope that helps a bit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Helps a lot.
This makes me consider Canada for the 1st time...other than watching Trailer Park Boys.

Central America looks hot and juicy tho'...

[locutus2002]

I have been on the fence for a while, but am now definitely not going to turn pro.

I can't see anything but all the poker sites closing their doors to US customers rather than face the DOJ.

Many of the 2 million or so US online addicts will find online clubs to play on for points or $W or something, but the games just won't be the same.

On a personal note, I have nothing but contempt for the current administration and their meddling ways.

[RichC.]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been on the fence for a while, but am now definitely not going to turn pro.

I can't see anything but all the poker sites closing their doors to US customers rather than face the DOJ.

Many of the 2 million or so US online addicts will find online clubs to play on for points or $W or something, but the games just won't be the same.

On a personal note, I have nothing but contempt for the current administration and their meddling ways.

[/ QUOTE ]

So I'll see you at Oceans 11 from now on?

[NYWalker]

I'll never play poker fulltime, if that's called "play poker professionally".
I think a good ballance of family life, job, poker is the key to enjoy all three things. I work because I love my job, not only because it pays well but because it makes me feel I'm a valuable element to the society; my family is always my harbor for peace, love, comfort and rest. Playing poker tournament and attend other activities make me feel the excitment and other challenges in life. After I won some profit from a tournament, I feel lucky at work because I have other sources of income and fun! When I'm at poker table, I feel good because I have decent job comparing with other broken heros who have nothing to do but to play poker every minute. When I finally find time to stay with my family w/o work, w/o playing poker, I enjoy the time very well. I think a good ballance of these will make one feel happy and treasure all of them.

IMO, playing poker fulltime/professionally is good for those few top players who already made millions. When they are young and free, they should play as much as possible to earn as much as possible. Once they reached certain level, they start to redirect themselves into related businesses such as owning part of online pokersites, writing books, giving lectures because they know they can't be lucky all the time and they can lose all the money back to the pool. There are extremly successful poker players, but they are just the few luckyboxes.

I see a lot of talent college students doing extremely well in playing poker. That's great. But, giving up law school, giving up good education, to me, seems to be a un-mature plan. Everyone does need to develop a social tangible skill that can earn stable income to be responsible for his dependents.

Yes, playing poker and win 500K, 1M is a lot if we can put the money on the side and inveset it. In today's world, at least in my field, it takes avg 5 years to earn a million dollar. What I'm saying is a professional poker play makes a million today and can't make another million in the next 4 years, it would be the same as working professional in terms of money. But if earning that $1 million from poker requires one to give up precious life time education opportunity is really a mistake.

I hope everyone plays poker successfully while having a good family (as harbor) and a decent job (as insurance). That's a real happy life.

BTW, I reached another Final Table at the Bike's "big october poker" last night/this morning at 3:00am. 9th/199 on $340 buy-in NL. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Caldarooni]

Dude. I play at Oceans 11. Crazy. Just plain crazy.

[Dave D]

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Pat, I think that is a terrible way to look at things as far as I can tell. You need law school now more then ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah. And loans really shouldn't matter as far as law school is concerned. If you want to be a lawyer, you'll be fine in the long run.

Also as a 1L doing anything besides studying most of the time is abad idea.