Are Gambling Professionals Just Another Addict?

Many average gamblers want to know if gambling can be a profitable career. The short answer would be “yes.” However, it’s not recommended. Gamblers don’t have a steady income. It’s the polar opposite of having a 9-to-5 job. It’s also a very difficult career if you have a family because of the highs and lows. The last thing you want is to be in a slump while having to pay important bills and your wife throwing a temper tantrum because you’re not putting food on the table. This is not a fun experience and it will happen to most professional gamblers. On the other hand, there will also be times when the good times are rolling and you can do no wrong. You will have an opportunity to take your family out to dinner, on vacation and you can work as you please. If you’re single and you have a passion for sports betting or poker, then it’s worth a shot, but only set aside a certain amount.

You want to have enough for a bankroll, but you don’t want to risk your life savings, even if you’re life savings isn’t a lot.

Getting to the next big question: Are professional gamblers addictive gamblers? The answer to that question is “yes.” However, professional gamblers have learned how to channel their addiction into a profitable venture. Let’s take a look at a successful gambler and a loser.

The successful gambler risks a maximum of 10% of his bankroll per day. If he’s a sports bettor, then he will only risk 10% of his bankroll on a day’s games. He will also likely bet 1 game, 3 games max. Anything over 3 games is asking for trouble because the vig will catch up in a hurry. If he’s ahead a large amount heading into the Sunday Night Football game, he will risk no more than half his winnings in order to lock in his wins. If he’s a poker player, the same 10% bankroll rule applies. If he gets felted after just 30 minutes, he will get up, walk away and go home. It’s the rebuys that get people into trouble at the poker table. If he’s an online poker player, then the temptation to rebuy is even greater because there is no embarrassment factor and the temptation never leaves his home. Strict rules must be applied in order to be successful.

The loser takes a completely different approach. This is the type of addictive gambler who can’t channel his energy because he gets too emotional. The first mistake this player makes is chasing. This means that if he’s down 0 going into the Sunday Night Football game, he’s going to risk 0 in order to make it all back. He doesn’t realize that it’s better to grind his way back or wait for a great opportunity. Chasing might work from time to time, but if you continue to do it, you’re eventually going to get rocked. A losing gambler will also rebuy several times in a poker game. They’re upset and they’re letting their emotions control them. The worst part about this is that you can’t play at the top of your game when you’re on tilt. A rebuy often means dead money.

Overall, professional gamblers are addicting to gambling, but they know how to control that addiction. Amateur gamblers, which make up 95% of the gambling population, cannot control their addiction.


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