Online gambling is a growing industry, with online gaming transactions rising from $7.4 billion in 2003 to $41.4 billion in 2015. Despite this tremendous boom in interest, many people still question whether or not it’s possible to make a living gambling over the Internet. It isn’t easy, but there are professionals out there that have developed the strategies and systems needed to allow them to make lucrative incomes playing online poker, sports betting and various casino games from home.
How Online Gamblers Have Beaten the House
You’re probably familiar with the old adage “the house always wins,” but this absolutist phrase doesn’t always hold true with online gambling. While gaming providers definitely have an edge with most casino games, it’s still possible for gamblers to make a handsome profit. However, they need to develop the appropriate systems in order to make a sustainable living.
Here are a few of the different ways online gamblers can try to make a full-time living:
Taking Card Games Against Less Experienced Players
Making a killing from online slots can be difficult, as the numbers are randomly generated. For this reason, it’s a lot easier to make money on skill-based card games, such as online poker. Talented players in these games understand the impact of statistics and the elements of game theory, which gives them a strong edge over their less experienced opponents.
Making money playing poker on online gaming sites isn’t usually as difficult as it is in a traditional casino, as these sites tend to attract more amateur players. However, despite this, it still takes time and practice for players who want to “go pro” to develop their skills to the point where they’re able to beat the “noobs” and win regularly.
With practice, though? The very best online poker players can make bank. As an example, Niklas “ragen70” Heinecker earned $6.3 million in 2013 alone from online poker. Tom “durrrr” Dwan played very few hands, but still netted about $750,000 in the same year.
Playing Online Slots
Anyone that’s played slots in a traditional casino is probably skeptical about the fact that anyone can make enough money from online slots to earn a living. The first thing you need to keep in mind while playing online slots, however, is that they operate entirely differently from the slot machines in land-based casinos.
Online slots rely on random number generators, which aren’t actually random. They use complex algorithms to determine the next sequence of numbers, which means that it’s possible to predict outcomes by deciphering them.
Keep in mind that random number generators are extremely complex, so few online gamblers can figure out how to predict future outcomes. However, since the average payout on online slots is usually between 96% and 99%, you only need to be able to predict the outcome slightly better than the average user to walk away with a profit.
Of course, it’s also possible to make great money if you’re lucky enough to win a large jackpot from online slots. A couple of years ago, a Scottish woman won £5.4million playing BetVictor’s Hall of Gods (though it’s important to remember that this was the largest win in UK history and that it was due to sheer luck).
Online slots are really primarily games of luck. While it’s possible to develop a system to make a living from them, you’re still generally more likely to succeed with other forms of online gambling.
Sports Betting
Sports betting is another very popular form of online gambling that many people try to cash in on. According to Deloitte, U.K. citizens spent nearly £1.4 billion pounds on sports betting websites in 2013. They wager more money on sports than any other form of online gambling.
There are a couple of ways to make money from sports betting. The first is through arbitrage. A professional sports better on Reddit did an AMA about three years ago and illustrated how he makes a great living off of sports betting arbitrage. Essentially, they place bets on both teams through two different bookies that offer different payouts.
Here’s an example of some of the bets he may place:
• One bookie is offering lines of +120/-130 • The second bookie is offering +130/-140
What the Redditor would do is to bid $100 on one team and $125 on the other. This means that there are two possible outcomes: he either breaks even or wins $5.
There are other ways that players can make money as well (without rigging the competitions, of course). Betters that have a thorough understanding of the competitions can possibly forecast the odds better than their online bookies, which can help them earn a lot of money.
What Does It Take to Make a Living from Online Gambling?
Most online gamblers are hobbyists that expect to lose money in exchange for a little excitement. Some online gamblers are able to make a great living, but it isn’t easy. Make sure that you have all of the following on your side before trying your luck:
Capital You Can Afford to Burn
It’s going to take time to develop an online gaming strategy that’ll work for you in a regular, profitable manner – and you’ll only reach that point by playing regularly. Of course, this means that you’re going to need to spend (and possibly lose) some money.
Treat your new online gambling career like you would starting a new business by saving up a good share of the money you can afford to lose. If your wallet is already stretched thin, this isn’t the time to start trying for a career as a gamer.
A Lot of Perseverance
Even the best online gamblers will have their share of off days (and off weeks). You can’t afford to give up if you think that your system isn’t working anymore; instead, you’ll need to just ride it out until you start to make a profit again. If your system has proven to work, have faith – it’ll work again in the future.
Are you a professional online gambler? Do you wish you were, but something’s holding you back? Share your experiences by leaving a comment below:
