In 2025, professional gambling is no longer a niche pursuit. More and more players have managed to turn it into a career choice. In places like Australia, there are plenty of professional poker players, skilled Blackjack enthusiasts, or simply online streamers who play casino games. Still, the overwhelming majority of gamblers are casual players. They look for Brisbane online pokies or trusted sites in Brisbane where they get to play and possibly claim a neat promotions. On top of that, many who gamble are crypto enthusiasts and love the chance to turn their coins into casino chips.
However, we need to ask the question: how much do professional gamblers make? This article will present income ranges by gambling type and the factors affecting profitability. You can also find a few real-world case studies from 2025.
A professional gambler is someone who earns their primary income playing casino games. They are either high-stakes poker players earning their living through tournaments or data-driven sports bettors. It’s also possible to play blackjack professionally, however, the earnings are lower compared to poker.
In most geographies, professional gamblers are treated like self-employed business owners. They report income and expenses on Schedule C, and deduct expenses that are directly related to gambling operations. Moreover, they must provide evidence of capacity, skill, intent, and demonstrate that gambling has been their primary livelihood.
General professional gamblers (not game-specific) in the United States earn an average of about $16.76/hour, or approximately $34,863/year. On the other hand, Salary.com shows a higher annual average ($80,800) likely reflecting the full-time gamblers, as well as big earners.
If you are betting on sports you can expect an annual income of $50,000 - $100,000. However, the income will vary wildly depending on edge, volume, and expenses. Many fail to earn more than $25,000 yearly.
Professional gamblers usually play games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. These have a low house edge, and it’s possible to implement a range of bankroll management strategies. Strategies don’t improve your odds, but they help you recoup your losses, which is a huge deal. The same strategies can be used in mini games like Aviator, Plinko, or Chicken. For those who wonder is Plinko legit in Australia, the answer is yes, and dozens of operators host it nowadays. These brands run with provably fair technology, meaning it’s a legitimate space to play for real money. That said, it’s not possible to get an income range for this group of games, as they rarely register as professional players.
One area most often overlooked in a professional gamer's success is having a high-performance mentality and self-discipline. A great example is Andy Frisella. He's a business leader who is described as being a workaholic and has a "no-excuses mindset." He also has disciplined bankroll management, systematic learning, and mental toughness. All of these traits are needed for professional gamblers if they want it to be an income source.
But, how much do professional gamblers make a year, you ask? Well, that depends on many factors, including:
In sports betting, bettors prefer volume and staking rules, whereas poker professionals deal with extreme variance and skill improvements. Due to variance, even full-time players see earnings jump around from month to month. Furthermore, there are players who make high-risk bets, but they only do so using casino bonus. They don’t have consistent income, but their expenses are significantly lower as well. That said, the dynamic of this approach is such that it’s not sustainable as a full-time job, but it’s a great side-hustle.
In the U.S., all gambling winnings are taxed, even if you win less than your losses. That’s why you should record everything and report losses as tax deductions. Professional gamblers are required to report their income and expenses on Schedule C. They treat their costs like travel, tournaments, and software as business expenses. They also do not need to itemize expenses using Schedule A.
The IRS requires documentation if you wish to deduct expenses as a professional gambler. Documentation could include logs, W-2Gs or 1099-Ks, receipts, and separate bank accounts. Recreational gamblers report their gross winnings separately on a Schedule 1 tax return. Also, they may deduct gambling losses if they itemize their tax return, but in an amount not greater than reported income. In other countries, tax treatment of earnings will vary, but many have similar treatment for professional gamblers. The tax rate is determined based on earning brackets, so once they have a full report, they know how much they need to pay
Earnings from gambling activities can have high volatility. It is not uncommon for them to earn less than average in losing months or have profits that fluctuate from month to month. Although the majority of full-time professional gamblers maintain profitable earnings consistently.
However, no matter how much money do professional gamblers make, there are always risks. These can include psychological stress loads, inconsistent work hours, addictions, and legal and regulatory concerns.
Several data sources and case studies provide a framework for the variation in earnings.
Overall, how successful you are as a professional gambler depends on a variety of factors. Game understanding, adherence to discipline, positive edge, bankroll management, and legal/tax compliance all need to be considered.
