CasinoCityTimes.com

Home
Gaming Strategy
Featured Stories
News
Newsletter
Legal News Financial News Casino Opening and Remodeling News Gaming Industry Executives Author Home Author Archives Search Articles Subscribe
Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter!
Jerry Stickman Archives
More Strategy Experts

Jerry Stickman Gaming Guru

author's picture
 

Making a living from gambling

9 February 2025

By Jerry Stickman
Hello Stickman,

I read your column regularly. You really seem to know your stuff. If you don’t mind answering, have you ever made your living playing in the casinos? If so, how did it go. If not, have you ever thought about going pro?

Jose in Louisiana

Hi Jose,

Very good questions. Let me give you a brief autobiography of my gambling life.

The first couple of times I went to Vegas, I knew nothing of advantage play. I played only blackjack because I was familiar with it. I played blackjack at home and on breaks at work with fellow employees.

On my first trip I did very well. On my second trip I quickly lost everything I brought with me.

I then got serious about learning everything I could about how to win at blackjack. I learned basic strategy. Then I learned card counting and camouflage techniques. They worked well for me.

I found that playing blackjack could become stressful and tiring. I learned how to find and play the best video poker games as a fallback game. This required additional research, study, and practice, but eventually the time and effort became worth it.

Blackjack and video poker worked well for me over the years. Then I discovered that the games of craps could also be profitable. It took a lot of time and a lot of effort and practice, but I ultimately was able to gain an edge at craps.

I was part of a group of like-minded craps players that would meet on occasion and play as a group. We would play in Vegas, Atlantic City and Tunica. We would not win every time. We did win more than we lost, however. At times we would win quite a lot.

It was during this period of time that I started to consider quitting my job and turning pro. I had three winning tools in my professional gambling toolkit; blackjack, craps, and video poker. I was going to casinos six to eight times a year and making money on average.

I would start each session playing craps. If that was not productive, I would then turn to blackjack. Video poker was the “filler” game as it was easier to play for longer periods of time.

Before I finalized my plans concerning going pro, two other members of the craps group took the plunge. They had each amassed a decently sized bankroll, played well, and felt ready to go.

They each did well for a while, but ultimately could not keep up the pace required to make a living off their casino play.

This was a wakeup call for me.

I am cautious when it comes to making a living. I thought long and hard about what it means to gamble to make a living rather than gambling for fun and to have an additional source of income.

While gambling for a living can sound glamourous and exciting, the time required playing in casinos and the stress of HAVING to win can be overwhelming.

To answer your questions succinctly, Jose; ‘no’, I never played professionally, but ‘yes’, I strongly considered it. I finally decided playing occasionally for extra income while keeping the experience fun was the route that I would rather take.

As a follow-on, it is much more difficult in today’s casino environment to make a living than it was when I was considering it.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and tiny.

Jerry “Stickman”
Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines and 888casino.com. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.

 

Quiz: Two High Cards or Suited Queen 10

8 February 2025
Today’s article is a quiz on proper video poker strategy. The game is full-pay (9/6) jacks or better. The bet is the maximum five credits so that the royal flush pays 800-for-1 rather than 250-for-1. See if you can play the hand properly. Today’s hand contains: 10 of clubs (Tc), Queen of clubs (Qc), king ... (read more)
 

Improving Three of a Kind in Video Poker

2 February 2025
From Laquita G. Hello Stickman, I very much enjoy your articles. I find the information you present interesting and easy to understand. On to my question for you. Every time I am dealt a hand containing a three of a kind, I know I am a winner and I know the winning amount is more than just my initial bet. ... (read more)
 

Two Hands with an Inside Straight – But Different Holds

1 February 2025
Preamble: Today’s article is a quiz on proper video poker strategy for two different inside straights. The game is full-pay (9/6) jacks or better. The bet is the maximum of five credits sothat the royal flush pays 800-for-1 rather than 250-for-1. See if you can play each hand properly. Hand #1 The first ... (read more)

Next 10 Articles >

Jerry Stickman
Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry "Stickman" at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com.

Jerry Stickman Websites:

www.goldentouchcraps.com
www.goldentouchblackjack.com
Jerry Stickman
Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry "Stickman" at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com.

Jerry Stickman Websites:

www.goldentouchcraps.com
www.goldentouchblackjack.com