A “pro casino player”, or more formally a “professional gambler” is a person who makes a living from gambling. Just as you might sign into your online casino to spin a few reels when you finish work in the evenings, that’s exactly what a pro gambler has been doing all day – try free spins no deposit slots.

Whether he or she plays at traditional casinos or gambles online, as long as their source of income is winnings taken from wagering, that person is a professional.

Accumulating expertise

Becoming a professional gambler isn’t a decision to be taken lightly though. It’s probably not worth jacking in your 9 to 5 just because you’re feeling lucky. Professional gamblers have to acquire an extraordinary amount of expertise.

Just take sports betting for example. People who bet professionally must make informed decisions taking in every tiny factor to increase their chances. If you’re betting on tennis, how is the player’s form? Do they play well on one particular surface? Do they have anything going on off the court which could affect their game?

What about horse racing? You have to look at the form, trainers, jockeys, stall position, and even the days since the last race. We won’t even get started on football. It’s genuinely exhausting to contemplate.

Professional gamblers can’t afford to cut corners, and a lot of thorough research is required. It isn’t just playing poker online all day, it’s hours of homework.

How much can you earn being a pro casino player?

With a lot of hard work, learning, and experience, you can still make gambling profitable. Some professionals earn upwards of £100,000 annually, but a more realistic figure is around the £25,000 to £30,000 mark.

As stated above, it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. Without the nous to get through barren spells when winnings may dry up for a time, there’s nothing to stop your bank from knocking on the door for the next mortgage payment. And the pension scheme isn’t great either.

Do you need any specific qualifications?

Obviously, there’s no entrance exam or formal interview to get the job. No formal education is required if you really want to become a professional casino player, but there are casino classes people can attend, and some universities even offer degrees in gambling.

If you want to take a more conventional, but no less tricky route, you could study applied mathematics or computer programming. These will put you in good stead to better understand the dynamics of casino games.

As they say, there’s no qualification like experience. One of the best ways to start making some serious money in a casino is simply to practice and practice some more. You’ll learn all the nuances that can’t really be taught, like the psychology of bluffing and body language. You’ll also improve your game and learn what styles suit you.

Fundamental requirements to be a pro casino player

So what type of characteristics do you need to be a professional gambler? Firstly, we should establish that you can be a man or a woman, young or old. There’s no specific demographic.

However, some of the following characteristics will help you:

  • Patient
  • Analytical
  • Observant
  • Thorough
  • Dedicated
  • Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
  • Ability to cope under stress