ARE YOU ONE?

Posts: 3276 · Posted: 30.04.2008, 00:41

When do we determine a poker player is "professional" versus "amateur?"
If poker playing is your main source of income, or the main activity you spend your time on, you could call yourself a professional.

Being a professional poker player does not mean you are a good poker player or that you are even making money playing poker; there are alot of people in different professions who aren't good at what their title is, but that is their job title.

Some more well known pro poker players actually don't make much money with the poker playing itself, but all the advertising and other activities around their poker playing.

So being a "professional" is a matter of labelling oneself the title as there is no official place that decides whether you are one or not.

If you spend the same amount of time playing poker as a traditional full time job, you could consider yourself a professional. Now whether you make money off being a "professional" is a different story...

Posts: 505 · Posted: 30.04.2008, 00:47

good one bower!!

Posts: 2913 · Posted: 30.04.2008, 01:12

ROFLMBO! Boy, you are on a roll, Bower! Was this post inspired by our chatting in Open Chat tonight?

Nothing at all wrong with your post, but don't confuse occupation with ACCUpation.

Your opinion is your opinion and is valid as such in these early days of the professional poker player as a star.

Your logic was so good I hate to bust your bubble. BUT actually, to be a real pro, you have to fulfill at LEAST 2 requirements. 3 if in the USA.

You have to be registered with either the Comissioner and Comission of the WSP OR the WPT Comission.

Your poker playing has to be your MAJOR means of earning enough to support yourself or you and your family.

And the dreaded one in the USA.......You have to pay income tax on your earnings. (And it is a thief's percentage!)

Also, once you qualify, you have to stay qualified by maintaining a sufficient number of both playing time against other pros and also dollars, so that you can maintain a worldwide ranking with the Comissioner.

But I DID follow your thinking, Bower, and I'm not sure I don't believe that's the way it SHOULD be!

Your Guru

P.S. Bower, I will tell Ram that you are a fan of his.