Updated December 4, 2025
Disclaimer: Responsible Gambling & Professional Play The content provided in this article is strictly for informational and entertainment purposes only. While we may discuss advanced strategies or the lifestyles of high-stakes players, this publication does not encourage, endorse, or promote playing poker as a career or primary source of income. In line with UK Gambling Commission standards, we remind all readers that for most individuals, poker is a form of leisure, not a financial strategy. Professional poker involves significant financial risk, high variance, and no guarantee of security; it should not be viewed as a legitimate or reliable way to make a living. You should never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose, nor look to gambling to solve financial difficulties. Please play responsibly. If you are concerned about your gambling, or that of a friend, confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org or by calling the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. |
Many poker players dream of ditching that 9-to-5 job for a career at the poker table. But becoming a poker pro isn’t easy.
Professionals no longer have a reliable, steady paycheck and must deal with the ups and downs that can come with the variance of hitting the poker tables full-time.
However, savvy players can scratch out a living by playing poker and possibly even thrive, but it isn’t always easy. For those hoping to make the jump, here are some key things to keep in mind.
Build a Bankroll
It may not be the best idea to jump right into the world of professional poker. Dip a toe in the waters by playing part-time and tracking the resulting success.
Building a bankroll requires enough cash to survive the early struggles while learning how to play poker better.
Playing part-time will also allow insight into the suitability of this lifestyle. Playing part-time could be enough, as some players don’t want to spend every waking minute in a casino or playing online.
Instead, poker may be a fun side job that helps bring in some additional cash, pay for a nice vacation here and there, or help add to those retirement savings.
Know the Various Games & Stakes
While today’s poker landscape features an endless number of live and online tournaments and cash games with varying stakes, finding a niche may be the best approach.
Find stakes that best fit a specific bankroll and look for games in which a player can excel. When it comes to stakes and buy-ins, tournament buy-ins vary by the size of the field:
- When playing online ‘sit-and-go’ style tournaments with only six to nine players, players won’t need nearly as many buy-ins.
- Playing against thousands of people in a live event requires more than 100 buy-ins as a rough estimate.
Remember that these numbers only apply if poker is the only income source. With money coming in from other sources, a player can take greater risks, since the finances will still be replenished.
How to Become a Professional Poker Player — Staking, Satellites, & Swaps
Many people can’t afford these price points — particularly for tournaments. There is no quick-and-easy poker cheat sheet for raising funds. It’s surprising to see that most professional tournament players have investors called ‘stakers’ or ‘backers.’
Staking
Getting ‘staked’ for an event means that someone will put up a portion of the buy-in in exchange for a share of any winnings.
Let’s say a $10,000 tournament was out of a player’s price range. Said player could put down $2,000 and sell 80% of the action.
The investors/backers/stakers would receive 80% of the potential winnings, less the markup.
This system has grown even more in recent years, especially on the high roller circuit, where tournament buy-ins can range from $25,000 to $100,000 or more. Poker pros used to risk a considerable percentage of their bankrolls to play in these events.
Instead, these players put up a much smaller amount, and backers cover much of the rest. These backers invest in hopes of a return on their investment.
BAPs
Some players even buy a piece (BAPs) of other players in tournaments to offset the cost of their investment in a tournament series.
Satellites
Another option for aspiring professional tournament players is to enter satellites. These are online events where the prize is a ticket to a much larger tournament.
- Play a $10 satellite where the winners all earn tickets to a $100 tournament. Scoring results in a $10 entry to a $100 event.
- Satellites are also used for much larger tournaments in both live and online settings. Players can score majorly at a bargain buy-in – a decent return on investment for an aspiring poker pro.
Swaps
Lastly, many high-stakes poker pros use ‘swaps’ to minimise their risk and have a shot at some winnings when another player cashes. This process involves swapping a specific percentage with other players.
If either player wins, the proceeds are shared with each other.
Remember Daily Needs & Plan Accordingly
When considering a career at the poker table, many fixate on the potential earnings of betting and learning how to bluff in poker every day.
However, there are many considerations to contemplate:
- Leaving a job with solid benefits? Typically, these benefits won’t be there at the beginning of any poker career.
- That loss could include health insurance, retirement benefits, and other perks.
- By becoming a solo entrepreneur, funding some of these benefits becomes a personal endeavour.
Consider the amount of money needed to keep funding a current lifestyle. Be realistic about what the new life of becoming a poker pro could bring in. The hourly amount required might not be achievable.
However, those with minimal expenses and no dependents may feel it’s worth taking the chance.
Staying Disciplined
Discipline is key to becoming a successful poker pro. The card-playing lifestyle can be full of temptations and distractions.
Some players might give in to partying, laziness, wild play, and other unsavoury behaviours that can affect their play.
Players must treat the game more like a business. That includes keeping track of wins and losses and paying any taxes. Setting aside funds for daily needs, retirement, and other aspects of life with a regular job is required.
Here are a few other things to remember:
- A critical barrier to becoming a professional poker player is diligently separating any poker bankroll from any life bankroll.
- Prepare for downswings. Poker probability dictates starting small and being honest about all results.
- Don’t be afraid to move down in stakes for bankroll protection.
- Also, don’t be afraid to seek additional employment if the poker pro career gets dicey. A part-time job can help rebuild and mitigate any bankroll losses.
- Keep focused on skill-building. Consistent study will maintain focus in-game and help plug any leaks, leading to more success in the long run.
Managing finances wisely and genuinely outplaying opponents could result in a healthy living as a professional poker player.
Conclusion
Cash games are the stable choice for aspiring professional poker players. Earnings may be small, but profits are steady. The payout structure is straightforward, where each chip equals real money.
With tournaments, only a small percentage of players finish in the money (about 10-15%). This situation makes tournaments more volatile, but the potential payouts can be huge.
- Aggressiveness flourishes in high-risk, high-reward scenarios – perfect for tournament players.
- Cash games are ideal for "grinders" who prefer steady, consistent returns.
Whichever format is best-suited, be financially prepared. Start playing online rather than at a casino.
Online offers more opportunities to play a wide variety of poker combos, accelerating learning and sharpening skills.
