For many people, the life of a professional gamer seems glamorous and attractive. But like most things in life, the game, like any profession that offers the possibility of great rewards, is difficult and demanding. The truth is that most people who make long-term gambling profits work very hard and have to sacrifice to win the money.
When I say win, I mean precisely that. I don’t want to discourage you if you have your heart set on being a professional gamer, but knowing what you’re getting into before you start is one of the best ways to ensure you’ll be successful. You can make money from gaming systems if you have enough money to fund your bets and support you as you learn the game and adapt the system to suit your own talents and style, but lack of funds is the main reason many players fail. Gambling, even if you are very skilled, still involves risk and therefore losing streaks. It takes money and discipline to survive tough times.
Surviving rough patches financially and emotionally is the mark of a true professional. One thing pros use to stay sane and out of permanent trouble is stats. I know you think that many betting systems use statistics to win games, but they are also used to reassure players that the tide will eventually turn in their favor. That is the power of a system, whether it is poker, blackjack, roulette, horse racing, dog racing, craps or any other system.
That’s the good news about using a systematic method to win any game. The not-so-good news is that no one is going to sell you a way to make a kill in any game right out of the box. You will have to take the information you are given, adapt it to your own talents and style, and then work very hard and endure the ups and downs of the player’s life.
When I say adapt the system, I mean that a good game system will teach you certain statistics, or situations to look for in any game. For example, a poker system can teach you how to calculate pot odds and playing position, while a horse racing system can teach you how to spot an overlap or false favourite. The most important lesson you can learn from any gaming system is how to spot a good bet. But any of these lessons won’t do you any good unless you have the personality to take advantage of them.
For example, if you are a person with a limited attention span who needs quick action and stimulation to stay focused, making a living sitting for hours counting cards at a blackjack table will not work for you. On the other hand, a system that teaches you to scan the board at the race track and spot an overlap and then place a bet and see the result of the bet in two minutes may be more suitable for your personality type.
Finding the right system that matches your personality is the most important part of success in the game after understanding what you’re up against, of course. The next most important step is to take the time to learn how to bet successfully while making small bets. To learn any other trade, you have to go to school or learn on the job. The same goes for gambling. So research the games and systems to find the one that works best for you, and then prepare by practicing and slowly increasing the stakes as you learn the game. That is the best approach to success in any endeavor.