Why moving for poker is worth it

[dibbs]

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What if you move, but online poker becomes too tough? Some players who used to be winners aren't anymore.



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As he stated, he can always move back and do the school thing. I do agree with your sentiment though, and nation I agree with your decision to wait a few months to see what happens, Im pretty much in the same boat as you and these threads have been useful, along with calling many friends worldwide to feel out options.

Good luck.

[Jinx]

Honestly, if you can make good money playing poker and have no real ties to America, which i think most 20 something recent college graduates don't, I see no reason not to move out of the country for a while. Doing it just to play party poker seems dumb, but doing it because you can because of the freedom poker affords you seems like a great way to see the world.

When I went to asia last summer, I went to Japan and Korea and Shanghai by myself. Didn't speak the language at all in the first 2 places, barely spoke the language at the third place. I had no problem making friends and had a blast. As long as you don't have trouble talking to people I don't see the big issue in starting a new life.

Personally, I am 99% positive I am moving to korea pretty much as soon as a i graduate this spring. If I like it there I'll stay, if I don't I'll move, and if internet poker dies I'll come back to America to get a job. If poker dies out you'll be working the rest of your life, there's no reason to hurry into it while poker is still alive and kicking.

[mothmandan]

I agree with OP that this could be interesting. Great thread. I think the most difficult part of this idea are the immigration/visa issues that will arise if you stay in one place long enough.

I travelled through New Zealand and Australia for 8 months in '06 and was in a similar situation - 20 something, no strings, and an urge to break free from what I knew. I worked during the NZ fruit harvests, partied in crazy towns, re-introduced adrenalin as a major blood component and had freedom I never knew was possible. The visa issues (as a Canadian for NZ/Oz anyways) were always simple if you wanted to stay for 6 months or less and then they became a bit more complicated. In my case I had to have proof of a plane ticket out of the country or enough physical cash to buy one, plus the visa itself. I think this is pretty standard because most countries don't want illegal aliens to just drop in with no way to get out. Renewals and extensions of visas can be difficult without good reasons and I don't know where staying to avoid online poker persecution rates on the "important reasons to stay here" list. The visa extensions would be the main priority if you were to travel for a long time, there are tons of horror stories from people who don't think this is an issue. Make sure you can get an extension and make sure you fit all the criteria if one can be granted.

If you can make enough money playing online poker to pay all your expenses then it would definitely work providing you don't go busto. Freedom in a foreign country is expensive because I don't think you will be playing poker every day (Women, alcohol and skydiving all cost money and will eventually be encountered). All you are doing is exchanging the normal bartender/barista/orchard worker jobs that most of us travelling schmucks take on for sitting in a hostel room playing poker.

One of the other posts mentioned banking issues. If you bring cash and a few pieces of ID you should be able to find a bank somewhere if you think deposits will be an issue (or find an international bank like HSBC that is everywhere before you leave).

I agree with other posters that it would be a bit short sighted to move permanently to a country just for online poker, but if you want to see the world then this may put the money in you wallet so that you can do it.

Dan's 2 cents

[seemorenuts]

Now if they'd let you pay for your airfare from the prison internet terminal playing online poker, then you are all set!

Seriously, I've been to 37 countries and one of the things I noticed were the Aussies who made a living giving haircuts, as you know they travel more than most people, typically getting 6 weeks if the had a regular job, and more semipermanent travellers than most countries.

I know it sounds paternalistic but for those who have never left the US, don't accept free drinks from locals on a beach (it happened to a pal of mine way back in '86) or you'll wake up without your bling... and for some strange reason, I've seen many people injured and killed while travelling in ways you just don't expect... not to sound like a paranoid... lol, have fun!

Oh, and how about the Bahamas (Paradise Island is too expensive, there might be minor casinos in many of those carribean islands, anyone know)?

P.S. India is pretty cheap and very interesting... if not for the war and the commies, Nepal would be nice, google its current mess... lol, they tried casinos!

[Gregg777]

A lot of people talk about the difficulty of visas over 6months, but I don't see it.

All you need are two viable options, and spend half a year in each.

If 80 year old snow birds can do it in Florida, certainly you should be capable of it.

[pyedog]

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Nation - I think you really need to datamine the Full Ring tables on PP before making the decision to leave the U.S to play on PP. I used to play Full Ring pre legislation and now its not worth it at all...All the PP tables are complete rock gardens. The avg table vpip ranges from 16-20 which is brutal. Also, the table selection is complete crap. Currently (7pm Pacific time) there is six 200nl Full ring tables running. Most of which have the same 10 players on them. During prime time...there is about 10 full tables running so full ring is completely dead on PP. I've been forced to move to SH and its not as fishy as you may have heard. I play on FT during the night and the games are equal in terms of fishiness. So I definately suggest you do some datamining otherwise you will be severely disappointed.

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I've got to agree with this post 100%. I can still play at Party but I choose not to compared to almost every other site. I've never played at FT, but the Stars games are very comparable to the average Party table at 200NL 6max.

I am not a world class player, but I have about an 8BB/100 winrate at 100NL and 200NL 6max over the past few months, so I'm pretty good at least. But I don't believe that I'm a significant winning player in the average PP 200NL 6max game anymore. Almost every table is full of multitabling regulars (many Canadians, some Euros) with stats of 22/15/4 like me. There are some occasional fish but they do not last very long.

[Reef]

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I wouldn't count on the Asian market, as Poker might just not be their thing.


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uhhhhhhhhh

[Tuff_Fish]

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Almost every table is full of multitabling regulars (many US players on Canadian proxie servers, some Canadians, some Euros) with stats of 22/15/4 like me. There are some occasional fish but they do not last very long due to the US multitabling sharks that have found their way there.



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[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


I couldn't have said it better.

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[pyedog]

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Almost every table is full of multitabling regulars (many US players on Canadian proxie servers, some Canadians, some Euros) with stats of 22/15/4 like me. There are some occasional fish but they do not last very long due to the US multitabling sharks that have found their way there.



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[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


I couldn't have said it better.

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Interesting, I never considered that possibility. You think that Americans using proxy servers are pretty common already? I know that my girlfriend often plays against a guy at 400NL who's name is something like "lolImAmerican".

Anyways, I'm biased but I find that Canada has more solid poker players than the US. Granted all of the best poker players in the world are American, but I just find the average American player to be worse than the average player from any other country. The US has more rich people, many of whom got their money from inheritances or by doing something stupid. There is more of a culture and history of gambling there. There are more people driving around in Escalades wasting their money. There are more meatheads with money to burn who think that playing tight is for pu$$ies.

Anyways suffice it to say that I miss the American poker playing market, but just not any of you guys.

[Tuff_Fish]

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................................

Anyways, I'm biased but I find that Canada has more solid poker players than the US. Granted all of the best poker players in the world are American, but I just find the average American player to be worse than the average player from any other country. The US has more rich people, many of whom got their money from inheritances or by doing something stupid. There is more of a culture and history of gambling there. There are more people driving around in Escalades wasting their money. There are more meatheads with money to burn who think that playing tight is for pu$$ies.

Anyways suffice it to say that I miss the American poker playing market, but just not any of you guys.

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Your fellow multitabling 2+2er feels your pain. The above described player won't be finding their way to a proxie server.

Tuff