Can You Make a Living Playing Poker?

New poker players often ask how many people are making a living playing poker. While answering the question, Poker Pro Phil Galfond also touches on the amount of Poker Millionaires!

It’s not a career path that Phil Galfond would recommend, but there are still plenty of people playing poker and making a living. At low stakes you have to be better than your competition and increased rake, so rising up through the poker stakes is difficult.

If you are able to rise from the micro stakes to high stakes and are looking at making a million dollars in a year, you are probably one of only twenty to one hundred people doing the same thing. High Stakes poker and becoming a poker millionaire are not regular occurrences for poker players!

Are you a new poker player or a poker beginner? Do you have any poker strategy or general poker related questions you’d like a poker professional’s advice on? Leave a comment and your question might end up in the next one of these quick poker tips videos!

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[LowTide]

Poker as a side hustle is the way to go…

[bobbywhite]

I was a pro for a couple years back in 2007-2009 It was way different than today and it was still a grind. People think you just play in a casino or home game a couple hours a week but its not like that at all. Its work. And you have to win a lot to pay for everything and cover losses from getting unlucky or playing bad because you're tired or sick or whatever else. If you bing a large tournament thats one thing but mostly for me it was just grinding 10-12 hr sessions of cash games all the time to cover the mortgage and car payment and food bills
The real problem is that your bankroll and emergency fund is the same thing so when you need a roof on the house or car issues or health issues it all subtracts from your ability to earn more money and makes it hard to get ahead. Its not easy but its a living I'd imagine it gets a lot easier once you're rich but getting there doesn't always happen like you hope

[KevinsFamousChili]

The way I always look at it is would you rather make minimum wage studying and playing poker or you would rather make minimum wage working a regular job? If you'd rather work a regular job, then just play as a hobby. To truly be successful and get to the top you need to be in it for more than the money, you need to enjoy the grind and the learning process otherwise it will just be miserable. This goes for anything you choose to do in life really.

[asherreich]

Super fun hobby, brutal way to make a living

[robbyjacks]

I did it for 2 years around 2014 it was experience you really have to be super disciplined with money management
I know average players who crushed good players in the life cause they could manage the money.
Its a very hard life to lead it seems like glory but you have to be able to handle losing weeks its all great when thousands are rolling in but can you handle a losing stretch. All and all i lasted 2 years with paying all my bills off of poker and sustained eventually it got to the point going to play was laborous and i fell out of love with the game and life.
I stepped away for a while and recently jumped back in last few years and have no desire to ever play full time like that
It was fun im glad i got to experience it but it isnt really what most people think

[transportman]

I've been pulling poker almost everyday for the past seventeen years. There is a very, very small percentage of players that are actually making a living doing it. I do not recommend you do this for a living. If you are playing low stakes poker than you are asking to be homeless because you will never make money consistently or enough of it to stay afloat. My recommendation is to play for fun And only play with what you can afford to lose. I consider myself a very good player and I can go months and win thousands of dollars. But I can have a really bad week where nothing goes right and you can lose your mind

[mastyerfReality]

Been at it for... almost 2 decades. Went online for a couple years put in huge volume, took every beat there is. Now i just relax and play live cash games now and then. Been awhile since i left the casino without peoples money. The most important thing to remember: only play when you really have the urge to play. If its "work" and youre only doing it for money 💰, you will surely fail.

[DarkKnightofThrones]

All those things you listed barely exist with a corporate job working for the man. In other words, all I really have to lose is my pride, and my God took that from me a while ago!

[webguy]

As an elite pro player it is doable to make a living but its extremely difficult. It takes a lot of hard work not only on the game but also u must work on urself. Ur inner demons n ur weaknesses n conquer them.

[gregoryrozario]

Thanks for being Honest Phil it's, I believe only the top 5% are able to stay over the top and make it big and have a decent living. . . .

[Skozak]

Did it.. for a year.. I wasn’t pro. But played amateur level.. 2/5 and advanced 5/10 tables. Won a few tournaments. But it’s a hard grind. I do miss the excitement, but cards are cards.

[michaelchin]

What about moving to Costa Rica to play poker online and live in a cheap apartment near some beach as a 22 year old who has nothing to lose really. Seems like a pretty sick life to me. Wake up, run on a beach, then meditate on a little rock next to some monkeys. Then play poker. And also find like another drafting design/engineering job to do while also playing poker. So splitting my revenue 50/50. Am I cooked rn or is this an actual thing to do that is possible boss galfond?

[BaadMotorFinger]

I agree Phil. I tried to go pro and lasted about 6 months. Grinding 1-2 and 2-5 online to make 50 an hour after rake was just not worth it to me. Now I focus on my construction business, make way more money and not nearly as much stress. Now I play recreationaly and its much more enjoyable. Definitely not for everyone, but if you're young and have the drive, go for it!

[Buz-Lunch-Punx]

I made a million dollars and then started playing poker. It was much easier because I didn't have to worry about money. It became much easier to win.

[Patburkelife]

I play usually 3-5 times a week 2-8 hours depending on day since I own a car lot and last 40 days I’m up $12k

[LimitlessVibrations]

Which poker sites and apps you recommend??

[delvega]

If you up the statistics: It is likely that only around 30% of poker players are winners over the long term. And only about 10% are significant winners (i.e. make a meaningful side income or can consider going pro.
Translation. When you walk into Poker Room full of 200 players…
20 players can make a living full time
40 players are just above break even
140 players are getting their asses kicked

[imxploring]

It's not a successful career path for 99% of the folks that pursue it.

[parafroome]

I make a lot of money. Money flows to me like a river....

[godismygeneral]

20 - 100 people are making 7 figures ?!?!!

So statistically no one 😂😂😂