Played all around the world since the 1800s, it’s difficult to put a figure on the popularity of poker. Estimates suggest there are between 500,000 and a million tournament players globally, and millions, potentially billions, more casual players.
From baseball to badminton, professionals are a feature of any sport or game offering the potential for financial returns. While poker careers may once have been restricted to specific locations, like Vegas or Macau, online play has changed everything.
Today, it’s possible for people almost anywhere in the world to try their hand at becoming professional poker players. They just need the interest, the skills, an internet connection, and a device compatible with online poker platforms.
Going Pro
Earning a living playing the game you love sounds like a great opportunity, but what does it really look like? Built from the routines of several prominent personalities – here’s an example day in the life of a professional poker player.
- Morning Prep
It might be tempting to imagine professional card players as night owls who rarely see the hours before lunch. In truth, people are more likely to be at their best if they adopt a lifestyle more focused on health.
Succeeding in long poker sessions requires stamina, mental clarity, emotional balance, keen observation and sharp decision making. That’s why many pro players begin their day with healthy breakfasts, workouts and mental well-being exercises like breathing or meditation.
- Early Session & Lunch
It depends on personality type, but many of us are at our most mentally agile during the hours before lunch. Combined with the need to work around global time differences, that makes an early competitive session vital for many players.
Many pros find it useful to keep this stint relatively short, breaking to eat and rest before fatigue sets in. Getting away from the screen and choosing a healthy meal are good tactics to set up for a productive afternoon.
- Long Afternoon Session
Sometimes referred to as the ‘main grind’, an extended afternoon session is when many players will search for steady wins. These hours can cover anything from tournament play to low-risk live hands, which add regular amounts to the kitty.
It’s during this period that being a professional poker player looks most like being in any office job. It’s not about the sport or the thrill, it’s about putting in the hours and banking the gains.
● Study & Analysis
Gut instinct and repetition are useful in any field, but they’re rarely enough to make you the best. Many players like to follow the afternoon sessions with a period of study and analysis to help make ongoing improvements.
This could be video replays of the day’s games, running simulations of potential scenarios, or researching future opponents. As for any athlete or business professional, information and evaluation are as important as practice for developing skills.
● Dinner & Relaxation
All work and no play doesn’t just make poker players dull, it makes them tired, stressed, and inefficient. To maximise success, it's important that every player takes a break for unwinding, socialising, refuelling, and keeping fresh.
● Coaching & Content Creation
While some are able to make a living from purely playing poker, many have to build a more complete business. Content creation, such as streaming, or coaching new players, are two ways to broaden income opportunities. From creating ‘how-to’ videos to offering one-on-one private coaching, there are endless opportunities for skilled players in this market. It’s also another pathway to staying sharp, by taking a player out of the game and providing a new perspective.
● Evening Session
Depending on the time zone of a player’s location, returning to play in the evening may be essential. This might be when the tournaments are held, streams are run, or when the games in another location pick up.
If playing again after dinner isn’t necessary, this can be a good opportunity for business admin tasks. Financial record keeping, result logging, and future planning are all good ways to wrap up a day and stay organised.
● Disconnect
Finally, and often overlooked by those still in the ‘night owl’ mindset, switching off is also important. Moving straight from the screen to bed does not allow the mind to properly cool down, or promote restful sleep.
As with any job, setting aside time to separate from poker and focus on other areas of your life is crucial. Though self-employment of this kind often tempts people into constant work, breaks – daily, weekly and for holidays – are essential.
Total Focus
So, while you might imagine professional poker playing to be a spontaneous, perhaps even glamorous lifestyle, the truth is different. As with any career or venture, real results come when you apply an organised, strategic, diligent, and balanced routine.
Being a professional poker player can be a successful career, very successful in some cases, but it is a career. To grow from fun online play to the daily routine of a pro player, dedication is what you need.
