Quote:
Originally Posted by LT22
Yes there is a massive difference between making a living and supporting yourself while in school.
Sorry to say that poker isn't that profitable from within the US due to the risk of losing your entire bankroll overnight and it taking 6+ Weeks to get checks from some sites. Also, very few students are going to put in enough hours to play 100k hands. It's a very good part time gig, but it sure as hell shouldn't be your life focus to make $36k/yr playing online poker. Not sure what country you live in, but $36k -taxes -living -living expenses isn't going to leave much of anything behind. US Employers don't look kindly upon you if you quit your career and then play poker for a while and say "I want it back!" They're going to assume you'll just quit again, why would they waste their resources on you, the unreliable entrepreneurial spirit?
Everything you've stated as a counter here I've explained above. Firstly, I don't seriously mean one would play 20nl for a living - I was merely making the point that 20nl will never be much more difficult than it is now in the future.. As an "entry level" stake it's always going to be filled with fish willing to drop $100 in a session or two while enjoying the gambling aspect. If it were filled with regs, I'd find a site where it isn't.
As for $36k a year being a small amount - where I'm from a three year post-qualified attorney would be lucky to be making that amount. I did make it clear my (and other people from the developing world) most likely have a different set of financial circumstances. if $36k isn't enough, then surely $50k playing 50nl and some well-table-selected 100nl must be? (Once again: for a young unattached adult).
I don't think poker as a full and secure living is something I'd recommend to anyone except the very gifted (by gifted I mean tilt-free and having excellent money management skills over and above poker ability).. Not now and not in 2006. The future of the legality of gaming is unsure, as you've said, so surely it is too risky.. I'm not certain why you mention the US.. In my mind yours is a foregone conclusion until some major changes suggest otherwise.
As to your last point: why would anyone quit their job with a family, mortgage, children to feed, clothe and educate to gamble? Unless you're a huge proven winner as a semi-professional and have massive savings it's such an irresponsible concept it's absurd. Students, travellers and young adults in between jobs or newly qualified in a trade are the only people for whom I'd ever say it were a viable option.
Please stop repeating the 20nl professional concept. It applies in a very limited context. To reiterate for the last time: the games from 50nl down will never be so tough as to be unbeatable for a decent win rate for the simple reason that fish mess play recreationally at those stakes now, in the past and most certainly as long as the online game is running.. There will always be enough of them.