Questions about Germany

[Arc]

I currently live in the United States and a portion of my income comes directly from playing 5-10 NL hold em (Actually a little over half my total income to be exact). I am considering moving to Germany in the next 6 months for roughly a year or so. A couple of my friends are moving there and getting away for a year sounds like fun. So now the questions and general info.

1) Being that the unemployment rate is so high in Germany finding a job may be difficult for someone who does NOT speak any German. So i need to know if it is feasible to make a living playing poker in case i am unable to find a job. I really know nothing about the gambling landscape in Germany (or Europe for that matter). I have no idea if they even have games running. I did a cursory Internet search but really found out nothing.

2) I have never played any poker online so as of now this is not even an option. I have a certain aversion to online play.

3) I have played poker for over 9 years and have been successful the first 7 playing limit games (up to 15-30)and the last 2 years playing NL (thank you WPT). I have a healthy bankroll ($20K+) and am fairly confident in my abilities. I play in Southern California so am used to aggressive play (and highly stupid play as well, thanks again WPT).

If anyone can give me some general info I would really appreciate it. I'm just looking to see if poker is a viable outlet in Germany. I just need to be able to survive for a year in case i cannot get a job without seriously depleting my savings and bankroll.

I really know nothing about Germany so any information would be appreciated.

[RegBarclay]

You won't have much luck finding poker in Germany. The only games played if any (mostly only on weekends) are at the larger state casinos. German law does not permit card rooms like the ones in California.
If you find a game it will have a very high time charge or rake. And it will be played potlimit (either stud or omaha, I am not aware of any HE games spread in Germany).

If you want to support yourself for one year playing poker in Europe I suggest either Austria or UK.

Austria has many cardrooms, but if you want to play in the bigger games you have to learn PLO, HE and stud are spread limit only (up to 15-30).

I have never played in the UK but I hear they have started spreading NL HE games as the TV poker boom reached them some time ago and is only starting in the rest of Europe.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Regards,
RegBarclay

[Arc]

Thanks for the post RegBarclay. That pretty much completely answers my question. What... a.... bummer....

So i guess this means either, A) No poker for me in Germany (with a high rake and PLO and Stud not my forte, no way i can count on that as an income) or B) Get over my aversion towards online poker and learn it.

Anyhow thanks again.

[CommanderCorm]

- There is a casino near hamburg which has a weekly 5-10 limit HE game and some other poker games including stud.

- You don´t have to pay taxes on your winnings in germany which may help your case.

[jen]

"I am considering moving to Germany in the next 6 months for roughly a year or so."

You should come before the World Cup in June.

"...the unemployment rate is so high in Germany..."

It is, but it's getting better.

"finding a job may be difficult for someone who does NOT speak any German."

What do you do?

Lots (I would guess a significant majority) of people in Germany don't speak English with any proficiency. I hope one of your friends speaks German and that you get to stay with him.

"I really know nothing about the gambling landscape in Germany (or Europe for that matter)."

I've never played in a casino in Europe, mostly because I haven't found any reasonable games. I play NLHE. Here's what I've found:

1. Some German casinos claim (on websites) to spread low limit HE. I don't know if this is true.
2. Paris: Aviation Club, During the WPT, they were spreading NLHE up to 2-4. They were taking names for a 5-10 game, and they had a short 30-60 going for a short time. The rake was very high.
3. London: Victoria casino, very marginal-looking, was spreading NLHE 1-2 and 2-4 over a weekend.
4. Barcelona: They were spreading one game of 5-10 limit HE and one game of 5-10 PLO over a weekend.
5. HE does not exist in Southern France, including Monaco.

"I have never played any poker online so as of now this is not even an option. I have a certain aversion to online play."

A very questionable stance, I think.

"You don´t have to pay taxes on your winnings in germany"

If it were that easy then everyone would do it. Income taxed in Germany (i.e., real-job income) gets waived in the US so that the tax-payer is not double taxed. $$$ not taxed in Germany (e.g., poker winnings) is (for US citizens) still taxed in the US.

[CommanderCorm]

[ QUOTE ]

"...the unemployment rate is so high in Germany..."

It is, but it's getting better.



[/ QUOTE ]

All german people I know would disagree with you here.

[ QUOTE ]


Lots (I would guess a significant majority) of people in Germany don't speak English with any proficiency.



[/ QUOTE ]

Depending on what you deem "proficient", i think you´re really exaggerating.

[ QUOTE ]


"You don´t have to pay taxes on your winnings in germany"

If it were that easy then everyone would do it. Income taxed in Germany (i.e., real-job income) gets waived in the US so that the tax-payer is not double taxed. $$$ not taxed in Germany (e.g., poker winnings) is (for US citizens) still taxed in the US.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right, I didn´t consider he wont become a citizen of Germany but will only stay here for a while.

[jen]

CC, I didn't mean to offend. I think Americans are much worse when it comes to foreign languages/cultures than Germans. But for a country which mandates English classes in middle/high school, Germans speak remarkably poor English. My university-educated, German colleagues, who work for an American high tech firm, speak reasonable English for the most part. But I have found that most people in the service industry - furniture stores, gyms, department stores, government agencies, banks - speak little or no English.

And to the OP's point, it is one thing to live with someone who speaks the language or have your firm move you (find you an apt, move your stuff, register you for German class, etc.) and quite another to find your own apt, buy your own furniture, and otherwise set yourself up for daily life with no previous experience with the language. Not impossible, but difficult.

[RunDownHouse]

If you haven't yet, google "expat bavaria" for a couple decent expat sites for Germany.

[CommanderCorm]

I didn´t feel offended. I´m planning to move to Riedquat anyway.

[highlife]

internet poker perhaps? people have been known to make some money doing that.