Going Pro. Wait till after the session?

Austiger · #1 08-14-2006, 01:01 PM

I've pretty much made up my mind to go pro. I make about 35K at my job and I estimate I can make about 100K at poker. I'm bored with my job, etc. and ready to quit now. Even if I knew I would be unable to play in about a year, I would probably still go pro just to bank some cash before it runs dry. How much should I let the potential gambling ban affect my decision and timeline? Thanks.

ronniep · #2 08-14-2006, 01:45 PM

I don't think i'd quit my job right now. I'm a pro and i'm thinking of looking for a job because of this....

Nate tha\\\' Great · #3 08-14-2006, 01:51 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I've pretty much made up my mind to go pro. I make about 35K at my job and I estimate I can make about 100K at poker. I'm bored with my job, etc. and ready to quit now. Even if I knew I would be unable to play in about a year, I would probably still go pro just to bank some cash before it runs dry. How much should I let the potential gambling ban affect my decision and timeline? Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

We'll know far more about what's going to happen within 4-6 weeks. It seems patently silly not to hold out until at least then to make a decision.

However, just as obviously it depends on what your opportunity cost is from quitting your current job. If you're in a career-oriented, 9-to-5 type office job then a resume gap could be quite devastating. And even if a bill does not pass this year, there is a significant risk that something similar will pass within the next 18 months to 5 years.

I'd be more inclined to quit a job to play poker if one of the following were true:

1) You frankly hadn't made much progress in your current career track and could give a [censored] about having to start over.
2) You have skills that would allow you to work for yourself and a track record of having done so. Typically these are creative skills, or sometimes entrepeneurial skills.
3) You're at a point where it would be logical for you to go back to graduate school anyway. If you quit now, play poker for a year, and then begin a JD program in September 2007, you should probably be okay.

Lawman007 · #4 08-14-2006, 02:09 PM

Wait. There will be a lot of pros looking for work if this bill passes. It will be the death of online poker in the United States.

Uglyowl · #5 08-14-2006, 03:17 PM

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I'm bored with my job, etc.

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Time to find a new job! Take your time and find something you really like.

The summer I played, it was good, but not as great as I expected. Poker changes when it is your only source of income.

4Kingoff · #6 08-14-2006, 06:41 PM

I am in the same boat with job and potential poker earnings and I am leaning towards just going for it and if they ban online poker moving to Las Vegas or similar and grinding out a poker living playing live. Worst case senario I'll find a new job at the end of it all.

DuderinoAB · #7 08-14-2006, 07:14 PM

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Wait. There will be a lot of pros looking for work if this bill passes. It will be the death of online poker in the United States.

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lol...at least you are persistent

Megenoita · #8 08-14-2006, 08:22 PM

I'd definitely wait.

poorolrich · #9 08-15-2006, 02:08 PM

well, my brother plays poker in Las Vegas for a living. He is hoping the ban on internet poker is passed. The way he see's it is that more fish will come to Vegas and play so his poker winnings will increase and get easier. There are a lot of fish in Vegas--if you go pick what you are confortable with and stick with it. By the way, he never plays tournaments and makes sure when he wins at the table(most of the time) he cashes out before his win might draw attention to somebody. He limits his wins so he can stay under the radar--hint hint.

mikegmstr · #10 08-15-2006, 02:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
well, my brother plays poker in Las Vegas for a living. He is hoping the ban on internet poker is passed. The way he see's it is that more fish will come to Vegas and play so his poker winnings will increase and get easier. There are a lot of fish in Vegas--if you go pick what you are confortable with and stick with it. By the way, he never plays tournaments and makes sure when he wins at the table(most of the time) he cashes out before his win might draw attention to somebody. He limits his wins so he can stay under the radar--hint hint.

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This is not true at all. In the big picture, it's WAY better for the casino's/live players if this bill does not pass.