It’s becoming more and more common for people to seek steady income outside the typical 9 to 5. In the United States, around 2 million workers dabbled in freelance or gig work in 2020, with 34% of the overall workforce now participating in the gig economy. Because they do not work under a single employer, freelancers can choose their schedules, gigs, and projects.
One type of freelance profession you can try is to become a professional poker player. make a living out of winning games and tournaments. They can also engage in side-jobs related to poker, like writing books on the game or creating YouTube channels targeted at poker fans. Once they’ve built their reputation, they can earn big by partnering with businesses in endorsement deals. Below, we’ll dive deeper into the different ways professional poker players make Money.
Winning Games
Of course, the most obvious way pro poker players make Money is by winning poker games. Players just starting can play in low-stakes games and earn thousands of dollars each month. More seasoned poker players can win large cash prizes by participating in tournaments. The greatest poker players in history have earned millions of dollars in tournaments alone. Top players like Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth have earned upwards of $20 million in live tournaments. On the other hand, Legend Daniel Negreanu has live tournament winnings amounting to a whopping $42 million. While you may not make that much, playing in tournaments is the best way to become a known player and will help you benefit from the below points.
Score an Endorsement Deal
Influencer marketing is one of the trendiest ways to earn Money these days. Individuals active on social media may attract the attention of major brands, who want to tap into their audience to promote their products. If a major brand decides that a certain individual can accurately represent the company’s values, they might offer Money or company-related rewards for that individual’s endorsement. Pro poker players that have built a good reputation might be able to reach out to big poker brands to negotiate a sponsorship deal.
But social media isn’t the only way to partner with big brands. Pro poker players may also accept rewards from major brands in exchange for wearing that brand’s merchandise, appearing on their website, or starring in their commercials. Usually, these deals will come from online poker websites.
Make a YouTube Channel
Influencer marketing is a popular marketing tool because today’s companies recognize the power and reach of social media. However, partnering with companies isn’t the only way to make Money on social media platforms. Pro poker players can release videos about poker on YouTube. If you have 1000 subscribers and have earned 4000 hours of watch time over a span of 12 months, you can partner with YouTube to receive a share of the ad revenue they generate through your channel. For example, poker vlogger Jeff Sluzinski has over 38,000 subscribers and receives tens of thousands of dollars in ad revenue. You can also use your video descriptions or profile to lead your viewers to affiliate links. Websites may offer you commissions for any traffic or sales you bring to their site.
Write a Book
If you’ve built a name for yourself in the world of poker, many poker fans will be desperate to hear what you have to say. By writing a book on poker, you can discuss your personal experiences with the game, what you’ve learned, or even educate players on poker tips and strategies. These days, it’s also easy to self-publish eBooks online. Writers can upload completed books on platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Program and have them published almost instantaneously. Once the book is out, anyone can purchase and download it.
