Is It Possible to Make a Living from Poker?

Gilead · Mar 21, 2025

Many players dream of playing poker professionally, but variance and mindset are big factors. Do you think it’s sustainable in the long run?

GarotoMaroto · Mar 21, 2025

If you really want it, get in touch with a poker team, they will guide you,alone is much harder,with a poker team you will evolve faster which will make you profitable also.
Good luck
Go for the gold
God bless

Fuchun · Mar 21, 2025

First you need to learn a lot of related skills first. If you really want to make a living playing poker, you will learn that it is not enough in a short time.

pentazepam · Mar 21, 2025

Live Poker: It's still possible, but it's hard, especially if you don't have a casino with a reasonable rake near you or access to some good private games.

online poker: Almost impossible without collusion, RTA, or other cheating methods.

The cheaper food and rent are internationally in the place you live the less hard it is of course.

People who live in some really low-cost countries can almost go pro playing very low stakes plus freerolls and using sports and poker bonuses for example.

Cheapest Countries to Live in 2026

Detailed data on the cheapest countries to live in, highlighting the monthly cost of living in US dollars based on various factors.

worldpopulationreview.com

TeUnit · Mar 21, 2025

It depends on how much you need, where you can play, and how much effort you are willing to put in.

NotADonk · Mar 21, 2025

pentazepam said:
Live Poker: It's still possible, but it's hard, especially if you don't have a casino with a reasonable rake near you or access to some good private games.

What counts as reasonable rake live ?

pentazepam said:
Online Poker: Almost impossible without collusion, RTA, or other cheating methods.

The cheaper food and rent are internationally in the place you live the less hard it is of course.

People who live in some really low-cost countries can almost go pro playing very low stakes plus freerolls and using sports and poker bonuses for example.

Cheapest Countries to Live in 2026

Detailed data on the cheapest countries to live in, highlighting the monthly cost of living in US dollars based on various factors.

worldpopulationreview.com

dompoker · Mar 21, 2025

I think so, but first you have to get money from somewhere else, save enough to play big tournaments, where the big prizes are.

pentazepam · Mar 21, 2025

NotADonk said:
What counts as reasonable rake live ?

In general under 10%. But it also depends on the cap. The lower the cap the better. Uncapped 10% is horrendous.

https://www.reddit.com/r/poker/comments/1c6ar2y

okeedokalee · Mar 21, 2025

You need a big bankroll to sustain you.
Then you need more skill than 90% of the others who are trying to achieve your goals.
Then you have to play live. There are too many bots online.

Ruslan L · Mar 22, 2025

Gilead said:
Many players dream of playing poker professionally, but variance and mindset are big factors. Do you think it’s sustainable in the long run?

I think it all depends on your needs. For example, I live in Ukraine, and in my region it is quite possible to live on $300-400 a month. I won't say that it will be a comfortable life, but this money will be enough to pay the bills and buy food. Earning $400 playing poker is not something super difficult, and it is quite possible to earn this amount every month, provided you are a disciplined and patient player. If we are talking about more money, $1000 and more, then this will probably be a more difficult question.

EarnDAStack · Mar 22, 2025

Yes of course it's possible to play poker for a living, however you need to be very dedicated to mastering your craft.

It's an incredibly competitive industry where many of the people who succeed in poker would be able to succeed in other fields as well due to the amount of discipline and dedication it takes to achieve financial success in poker.

Hard work and dedication will get you most of the way there. You'll also need proper BRM and a strong mental game to reach the pinnacle.

GL

EDS

valanddon · Mar 22, 2025

Tough life but the glamer is always great.

Mag_P1e · Mar 22, 2025

Depends on what level of income you are hoping for. In fact, 97% of "full-time" poker players live on rakeback - i.e. you just need to beat a certain limit and not "drain" it too much and you will already have a stable income regardless of prize places, etc.

phantoma69 · Mar 22, 2025

Mag_P1e said:
Depends on what level of income you are hoping for. In fact, 97% of "full-time" poker players live on rakeback - i.e. you just need to beat a certain limit and not "drain" it too much and you will already have a stable income regardless of prize places, etc.

What is the best site for rakeback what u think?

Mag_P1e · Mar 22, 2025

phantoma69 said:
What is the best site for rakeback what u think?

Sorry, friend, but I can't advise you anything in this regard, because I only play freerolls

ninocabral · Mar 22, 2025

yes it is possible

Rost · Mar 23, 2025

Gilead said:
Many players dream of playing poker professionally, but variance and mindset are big factors. Do you think it’s sustainable in the long run?

I think that players who play poker professionally and earn their living from it understand all the risks and have sufficiently reliable financial reserves that will allow them to survive difficult months or even years without any problems.

tihomir_kula · Mar 23, 2025

No, impossible!Poker is just a game.

eberetta1 · Mar 23, 2025

I only think it is only possible if you have a sponsor.

10gerka · Mar 23, 2025

Of course, it is possible, but you have to study and dedicate a lot of time to playing and always reviewing your hands, that way you learn much better to then play with the great players.

rufininha14 · Mar 23, 2025

I believe it is possible to make a living from poker. At first, everything is more difficult, but when you manage to increase your bankroll, it gets better and your earnings also increase. For now, I am not dedicating myself entirely to poker, but I intend to do so in the near future.

brunobravo8 · Mar 23, 2025

Gilead said:
Many players dream of playing poker professionally, but variance and mindset are big factors. Do you think it’s sustainable in the long run?

Yes, it is possible to live off poker. The 2023 Brazilian champion started playing in a home game that cost 10 reais (Brazilian money) without knowing anything, and from that day on he dedicated himself and today, in addition to titles and a Brazilian, he lives off poker and is a professional at the tables, he left all his other jobs.

brunobravo8 · Mar 23, 2025

tihomir_kula said:
No, impossible!Poker is just a game.

Yes, it is possible, there is a luck factor, but skill overcomes this in the long run, taking into account that professionals are always positive with their numbers.

Claudiunm · Mar 23, 2025

It is possible, but very difficult. It requires a lot of discipline. You must have enough savings to support yourself for 6 months without relying on Poker. You must have a reasonable enough bankroll to be able to play higher stakes. You must set aside at least 6 hours of quality time for Poker per day, of which more than half should be dedicated to studying the game and reviewing hands. And most importantly, you must set a daily winning goal. And you must have the discipline to quit the game on a bad day and not be greedy on good days. Poker is cruel to those who don't know when to stop... Whether it's on a good day or a bad day.

Iryna Stryzheuskaya · Mar 23, 2025

Yes. But for a very small number of people.

Is It Possible to Make a Living from Poker?

Gilead

Rock Star

GarotoMaroto

Visionary

Fuchun

Rock Star

pentazepam

Legend