What makes a professional gambler?

I often have people ask me what makes a professional gambler? Do you have to have no other job? Do you have to devote every waking hour to gambling? Do you have to know absolutely everything about odds, favourites and statistics?

I tell them “to me a professional gambler is someone who is making consistent money from gambling”. Now this doesn’t have to mean you are making billions like horse racing entrepreneur Bill Benter. Or that you can’t have a day job. All you need to be doing is keeping your wins consistent.

For me I think to makes these wins consistent you should have knowledge in the game you’re playing. Do you research. Now I’m not saying you have to be an Einstein but if you are committed and passionate about something this knowledge should retain easily. Find out the odds, practice in your down time if there is strategy. Do whatever you can to increase your chances.

The last thing I want you to know is that you shouldn’t get your hopes up to soon. Don’t spend all week reading books and articles and expect to walk into the casino on Saturday night and win every hand that is dealt to you. Pace yourself. Give yourself a limit of what you are going to spend. If you’re up at the end of the night, great keep doing what you did, if not change your strategy.

You may not become a millionaire overnight but if you’re good and stick with it you will become successful in your own time.