It’s pretty safe to say that anyone would love the opportunity to turn their hobby into a career. Particularly if said hobby was extremely enjoyable and said career could make you very rich. Suffice to say therefore, anyone with an interest in gambling would probably jump at the chance to make it their full-time job.
But what makes the whole thing all the more captivating is the way in which there are plenty of people all over the world who gamble for a living. And not just gamble, but make a small fortune in doing so. They do as a career what the rest of us do simply as a hobby, alongside our primary professional pursuits.
The question being – could you do the same?
Or more specifically – should you?
Pastime Vs Profession
If the idea of making a career in casino gaming appeals to you, the first thing you need to take into account is the huge difference between a pastime and a profession. For the overwhelming majority of casino gamers, the whole experience is about fun and enjoyment above all else. You win some, you lose some, but you always keep coming back for more. You aren’t in it only to win, so can enjoy taking the odd risk and facing a few losses here and there.
When gambling becomes your job, this all changes – big time. With most professions…unless you’re self-employed…your income is relatively stable. Even if you don’t earn a fortune, it’s not as if you can go to work and lose money. You’ll never come out at the end of the week or month owing your employers cash, rather than the other way around.
With casino gaming however, this can and sometimes will be the case. Casino gaming as a career has a lot in common with investments. You can hedge your bets as wisely as you like, but sometimes you’ll find yourself on a losing streak. You cannot control the outcome and nor are there any guarantees to safeguard you. When things go wrong, they go wrong – and it’s up to you to deal with it.
So rather than it being the same fun and games you know now, it all takes on a new air of seriousness. Important to factor in, if considering such a move.
Benefits and Perks
It’s also worth bearing in mind that taking up casino gaming as a full-time career means sacrificing certain perks and privileges. In official terms, you are officially self-employed and therefore subject to the same taxation and general legislation that everyone else has to follow. Nevertheless, you’ll of course have to forgo any of the additional perks you may currently enjoy as an employee.
Workplace pension schemes, health and leisure benefits, paid annual leave, sick pay and so on – all the kinds of things you’ll wave goodbye to, if you go it alone. Of course, it’s not to say that these things cannot be compensated for, if you turn out to be spectacularly successful. But it’s worth bearing in mind that comparatively few of those who turn pro become enviably lucrative success stories.
Once again, it’s a case of taking into account the fact that you are no longer looking at casino games as entertainment, but instead your primary workplace. So it’s important to take into account what you may lose out on, if you have the intention of going pro.
Committed Study
You’ll also need to be willing to put in the required hours, in order to gain sufficient knowledge and understanding of the games you intend to focus on. Wherever your chosen area of specialism lies, you are going to need to research the games and their respective strategies/odds inside out. Once again, it’s a very similar case when it comes to working with investments. The more you know, the wiser you can hedge your bets and the more likely you are to be successful. Or at least, the less likely you are to face heavy losses.
As always, it’s important to bear in mind the fact that no matter how dedicated or strategic you become, there’s still nothing you can do to remove the house edge. Or in other words, the odds are always technically going to be against you, to one extent or another. Which may make it sound as if long-term success is impossible, but in fact it isn’t. It’s simply a case of knowing how, where and when to make the right moves – just as you would if you were working with investments.
The Transition Period
Last but not least, factoring in the inevitable complications of the transition period is also important. The reason being that it isn’t quite as simple as snapping your fingers and suddenly owning a living by way of casino gambling. Instead, you need to quit your job, establish your budget and financial projections, understand your tax liabilities and so on. There is so much more to it than people tend to expect, which is precisely why so many stumble at the first hurdle.
While all of the above may come across somewhat negatively, it simply serves to highlight the reality of career gambling. In truth, the answer is yes – anyone could technically build a career out of casino gaming and do very well for themselves. Especially given the way in which online casino gaming has never been more accessible and it’s never been easier to get involved.
But at the same time, just because it’s technically possible doesn’t mean it’s the kind of thing that everyone should be pursuing. Things that are supremely enjoyable as hobbies often lose their sparkle somewhat when taken up as full-time careers. Particularly during periods where it may be difficult to make ends meet.
Still, if you’re up to the challenge and you believe you have both the tenacity and dedication required, it’s definitely an option to consider. Just make sure you know what you are getting yourself in for, before making any determined moves!