Quote:
Originally Posted by cilderr
because i have played for a living online for many years and i do regret it. it was fun for a while, but in the long run it was not worth it. I still play until i finish my masters next semester, but it surely isn't fun anymore. I also don't see any future for poker, on the one hand game is solved and everyone is running bots on sites that are non-stars and then there is stars which aims to turn poker into an unbeatable casino game. Seems like this game is either turning into a raked chess or into a slot which both suck. Also one more thing that prolly doesn't apply to you: my old school buddies are all more successful than me at this point in time, yes i was a baller and better off than them for a few years, but now im just a bum next to them.
Sounds pretty similar to a lot of my feelings. I did poker for 10 years, from like 25-35. Quit a decent job in IT to do it. For a while it was cool, and I was making a lot more than many of my friends. Then black friday happened, poker became more stress/boredom/isolation than enjoyment, games got tougher, and I never broke through to the 'big times' and for various reasons was unable to save much of a fortune. Many of my friends are doing very well now, own homes, have good careers going that they are 10+ years into.
Meanwhile I went back to school, recently got a Master's, and am trying to kickstart a new career which will take years to build up. I am excited to have a real job though, stability, insurance, interaction and cooperation with others, and being part of something bigger than my bankroll. I wouldn't advise most people to do poker full-time, it can end up consuming years of your prime and leaving you with little but a job gap and lost time.
Also do not underestimate the effects of variance and how hard it can be to manage and motivate yourself. If you're totally crushing it and making six figures+ a year and managing/saving your money well, it might be ok.
One last thing, now that I'm not paying the bills with it and having something else going on that's more important, poker has def become more fun and interesting again. I was SO burned out by grinding for years and years and NEEDING to win.