(Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-playing-poker-1871508/)
Australia is one of the countries with the highest number of active gamblers globally. In 2022, it was discovered that an impressive 72.8% of Australian adults gambled at least once during the twelve-month period. For the majority of Australians, gambling is a casual and fun recreational pastime, but for some, it is a sport to be taken very seriously.
What Defines a Professional Gambler?
A professional gambler is anyone who has made a career out of gambling. As opposed to casino use or sports betting being something that they do occasionally, wagering funds that they have earned through other employment, for professional gamblers, gambling is their employment.
With this in mind, many professional gamblers are involved in much more high-stakes play than the average Australian gambler, and they approach gambling with an entirely different mindset, prioritizing strategy and skill over fun and relaxation.
Professional gamblers can be seen in a variety of casino and sports betting settings, from taking part in brick-and-mortar casino tournaments or gathering in sportsbooks to enjoying the wide variety of options available on online casino platforms. Many make use of online casino gaming without BetStop, for access to better perks these sites provide, including valuable welcome bonuses and impressive VIP programs.
Have a Business Plan
The main thing that sets professional gamblers apart from those who gamble in a casual setting is often the existence of a business plan. For those who gamble professionally, their gambling activity is their business, and so they need to keep an up-to-date document detailing their progress, strategy and desired outcome.
In this document, they will also need to keep track of every transaction they have made, including every win or loss, so as to provide a comprehensive document to the tax companies as their gambling habits do count as a business venture in the eyes of the tax man.
Successful Bettors
The most common type of professional gambler is sports bettors. This is because success in sports betting is less about chance and more about statistical analysis and trend spotting. Those who professionally bet on sports will know everything there is to know about the sports they are betting on, the teams involved and the history of play to make the most educated guess about the outcome of a game.
Bankroll Management
Perhaps the most important step to taking a gambling passion from casual to professional is employing a rigorous and effective bankroll management strategy. High-stakes players will be working with much larger bankrolls than more casual players, but this is even more reason to have a better understanding of effective bankroll management.
This involves viewing winnings and losses in a different light. Of course, professional bettors never gamble more than what they can afford to lose, but they also don’t see their losses as a failure or personal loss, but as a natural part of their business. Similarly, wins are not quickly taken and spent, but more often go straight back into the bankroll. Many professional bettors, despite the wealth they have accumulated, do not live the lifestyles of the wealthy. They know the value of their bankroll and see every win and loss as another step at building that bankroll up.
Work-Ethic
Another tactic of professional gamblers is to approach their gambling as a job, and not a recreational activity. This is because, for them, it is. Gamblers who make a living from their gambling activity work hard, are self-employed, and are constantly looking for new ways to expand their business.
Gambling doesn’t sleep, and as such, professional gamblers must find a way to balance their work and personal lives without one encroaching on the other. This is not only very difficult, but can also be stressful and needs a lot of self-discipline to be done successfully.
