Making a living playing poker question?

Question

I read somewhere that only about 2% of poker players actually make a living doing that.

Now I'm wondering why there are sooo many losers and very few winners in poker.

Now if it was any other game where the casino wins most of the time that would make sense but in poker when some players win someone has to win. So does this mean there are many many losers and very few people making lots and lots of money?

Answer 1

Okay...so if only two percent of poker players make a living playing the game, this means that roughly ninety-eight percent of poker players are not making a living playing poker.

But how many of those ninety-eight percent are successful? I don't know. There are some people who are losing money on a regular basis, sure. But among these players, you also have people who do well on a regular basis...but then get up the next morning and go to their regular, day jobs.

They're successful poker players. They just don't play poker for a living. For whatever reason, they've chosen to stick with the day job. They aren't losers: they just chose to continue with a "regular" job or career *and* play poker as a hobby. A hobby that pays rather well, granted, at least for some people. But a hobby nonetheless.

Answer 2

The figure 2% seems a bit high, my guess is that less then 1% of the online poker players makes a living playing poker. But there is lots of players who wins more then they loose. Maybee 10% of the online players makes money.

Answer 3

Just because only 2% make their living at it doesn't mean the rest are losers.  It just means that they don't play enough to make enough or don't want to quit the security of a real job to play poker full time.  I'm not a professional, but I win more than I lose.

Answer 4

It all about being consistant. Anyone can win once in awhile but few people can win more often then they lose day in and day out. Also few people even attempt to play poker for a living. The vast majority play as a hobbie. A person that plays for money will take advantage of every opportunity they have no matter how small, if you're looking to make money playing poker online it is critical to max out all deposit bonuses and play at mutiple poker sites. The best poker bonus guide is http://www.InternetPokerBonuses.com I would start there to get the best possible poker bonuses and free expert poker advice.

Answer 5

While the other posters here are correct that there are many people making some money at poker, but not enough to make a living, it is also true that a large majority of casino poker players are losers.  The casino makes money from poker through raking the pot or collecting a fee every half-hour.  This means that more money is lost than won.  To be a winner you have to be quite good, and to make a living you need to be very good, and also very disciplined.

Answer 6

I think you might be confusing some statistics and some terminology.

It may be true that if you go into a casino on any given day, only 2% of the players make a living playing poker.  But maybe only 3% of them are trying to make a living.  Perhaps the rest of them are just recreational gamblers that like to play poker.  They may leave with a decent profit for that day, but they have a real day job and only play for fun.

So I don't think the statistic means that 98% of people who play poker consistently lose.  I'm not even sure how that would be measured.

But there are a lot of people who lose at poker.  Probably because they see it on TV and give it a shot.  Well that's like watching Tiger Woods playing golf, and thinking, how hard can it be?

Most of the people you see playing poker on TV are highly skilled professionals.  They have spent years becoming that good.  You are not going to emulate that after playing for a few hours for play money online.

So lots of people who give poker a shot, without really attempting to learn the game, will ultimately fail.  You need to learn the math, the psychology, and the basics to even have a hope of winning.  Then you need to practice a lot if you want to win consistently.

Answer 7

25% of Americans play poker, whether it is recreational or for a living is hard to tell.  From experience as a poker player who is making a living at it...it is hard work and I would agree with the 2% figure.  I play at Foxwoods everyday and I figure about 10% of the people who play there are any good and probably 2% are professionals who actually make a living at it.  These players put long hours in and do lose from time to time, but they earn a living...they do not have other income.  The majority work about 5-6 days a week and make anywhere between 50k to 75k a year.  That's not big money but it is a living.

There are people that I see play there everyday who I have never seen leave with money from the table.  It's sad.  One guy in particular is a scientist with Pfizer he plays all the time, has no discipline but a huge bankroll to donk off his chips...I asked him the other day and believe it or not he would quit his job if he could make money...I have seen this guy go through thousands in a day.  

Somebody has to lose in order for others to win.

Mark F.

-PokerGob.com

Answer 8

Let's ask this question:

What percentage of golfers, skiiers, soccer players, make their livings playing the sport? probably less than 2%.  

What about musicians and actors.  earning a living playing poker is much harder than breaking even or losing. :)