Would You Enjoy Being a Professional Sports Gambler? Part 2

Part 2:  Do You Have What It Takes?

In part I of our series on becoming a professional sports gambler, we talked about the pros and cons of becoming a bettor full time.  As a pro gambler, you would have the freedom to set your own hours, be your own boss, and pursue riches you could never reach as a 9-5 employee.  You would have a chance to make a living doing something you really enjoy.  But you would also have to navigate risky seas, deal with drawdown, and do a lot of research and hard work each day to succeed.  You have to be honest with yourself and have a really strong rein on your emotions.

To some extent, however, a lot of what constitutes a “pro” or a “con” depends on your personality.  For example, being self-employed might be seen as an advantage by some, but a disadvantage to others.  The time commitment might be seen as a negative by less ambitious gamblers, but a positive by those who really thrive by throwing themselves into something and learning everything they can about it.

How do you know where you fall?  Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I have a strong sense of self-discipline?  Can I stay focused and on-task even if nobody is telling me what to do?
• Am I good at organising my time and work?
• Am I a self-starter?
• Can I handle in-depth, ongoing research and hard work?
• Am I ready to handle high taxes?
• Am I ready to take over my own accounting, and manage my money responsibly?
• Do I do well controlling my emotions, or at least keeping them in perspective?
• Do I handle uncertainty well?
• Am I able to focus on just one thing when I have to?
• Am I good at making rational decisions based on real data, and not just my emotions?
• Do I have the self-control to know when I need to take a break from betting?
• Am I accountable to the important people in my life?

If you answered “yes” to all or most of those questions, you probably are a great candidate for becoming a professional sports gambler.  If you answered “no” to a few, there is nothing wrong with that—that tells you what you need to work on to improve.  When you are aware of your weaknesses as well as your strengths, you can evaluate whether you are embarking on the right path, and whether you are on your way to success.