How much do professional VP players make as of today?

[Player422738]

Positive games are quarter or nickel machines, how do they live a life without getting a job by playing video poker then?

[FloridaPhil]

Good Question. Here are some other questions.

Professional players tell us having an adequate bankroll is an essential part of winning VP. If you are going to live a nice lifestyle off VP in Vegas, I assume that means you need a minimum of 100K a year in profit. To make $100K consistently from VP, you need a sizeable bankroll.

How does a professional player acquire a bankroll that size? Do they start out with nickels and work themselves up? Are they wealthy to start out with? Are they successful business people who use the profits from their other businesses to fund their VP?

Could a talented intelligent video poker player without money ever reach that level? Could it be done with today's games?

[billryan]

Yeah, because one needs $100,000 a year to live nicely in Vegas. Or maybe not.
Players depend on a combination of things. There are promotions to exploit, bonus days, cash back, and monthly mailings.

[Jstark]

There is no point in educating people into any form of advantage play. 1, most won't believe you anyway. 2, it creates competition. 3, they say stupid stuff like "you need a huge starting bankroll" or "we don't have positive EV games here." Case in point was me showing Phil that there IS +EV opportunities in his home casino where you DON'T need a large bankroll, but he blew that off as nonsense. Again, don't even waste time arguing with them. My suggestion to the AP's out there, just play YOUR game, don't do seminars, lectures, sell books or videos, etc., and let the Phils of the world keep promoting that it's too tough or impossible to win at VP(or any other game for that matter).

[billryan]

I was reading on a private forum about the many opportunities currently available in Florida card rooms, which I didn't even know existed.

[FloridaPhil]

I was reading on a private forum about the many opportunities currently available in Florida card rooms, which I didn't even know existed.

I have friends that play live poker in Florida. Many do well. I have one friend who's wife frequently flies to Vegas to play in these tournaments. She makes money. I do not know of any video poker professionals who play in Florida. If there are any, I would be very much surprised. In order to attract a professional VP player, you need opportunities. This means near positive games with comps that make the game profitable or a progressive that would do the same. I have never seen such a game in Florida. I have asked others to identify these games on this forum. I didn't ask for location. So far, the only thing that has been revealed has been playing left over Ultimate X Multipliers. I have no doubt these games exist somewhere. I do not believe they exist in Florida.

[Tedlark]

And shame on me for thinking that if there was one forum post that Phil didn't have a dog in the fight: it would have been this one.

[billryan]

Divas gonna diva.

[FloridaPhil]

And shame on me for thinking that if there was one forum post that Phil didn't have a dog in the fight: it would have been this one.

Actually, I don't care one way or another. I'm just trying to keep the facts straight. How about answering the questions?

How does a professional player acquire a bankroll that size? Do they start out with nickels and work themselves up? Are they wealthy to start out with? Are they successful business people who use the profits from their other businesses to fund their VP? Could a talented intelligent video poker player without money ever reach that level without outside help? Could it be done with today's games?

[Tedlark]

Phil, because I am not a professional player I did not and cannot answer the questions. That's why I did not attempt to do so.