Who is a "professional poker player"?

[Atararo14]

A professional poker player is a player who has understood the path to generating a positive return on investment over a large number of games played.

His profit depends on the level of the stack and the number of games he plays.

 

[finaltable1]

professional is the one who makes money for living using his profession.

 

[Veralt]

In my opinion, someone who has more gains than losses, dedicates themselves to it, and the profit is enough for them to live on. I'm not sure if it's the exact definition, but that's what I see as a pro player.

 

[19aleks57]

In my opinion, to be a professional poker player you need to have a regular cash income elsewhere.

 

[dreamer13]

A professional poker player can be compared to a small business owner, and every successful business has a clear development plan. It is a systematic approach, the presence of a clear concept and an eye for the future that distinguishes a professional from an amateur.

 

[dompoker]

a professional is when you've already earned a lot of money and you don't need a job.

 

[Ataman911]

It is not necessary to be a professional to earn something, the main thing is not to lower the bankroll left to right and play responsibly and the earnings will be 100%👍

 

[Poker Orifice]

In my opinion, to be a professional poker player you need to have a regular cash income elsewhere.

This is the very definition of a recreational player (imo).

 

[R.Melnyk77]

It is obvious that professional players are players who live from the income received from playing poker. I think the income of a professional player starts from 3-5 thousand dollars.

 

[Toruk Makto]

Who can make a living from poker!
And he likes what he does.

 

[Dejana]

Not me, I have other jobs... + if you don't have a job, earning 2/3k a month from poker, sitting in your room and thinking you are a pro on the top, nope - that's not a pro poker player...

 

[888NOX888]

A professional poker player is a person for whom poker is a source of livelihood, and professional players earn in different ways, everything depends on their skills, someone does not deny themselves anything, and someone saves on everything. Everything is the same as in other jobs, the profession is the same, but the earnings are usually different.

 

[steve01991]

for me professionals should get 80% of their income from playing poker.

 

[Gilead]

person which main income source is from playing poker. And that income can vary dramatically with most, I dare say, just making minimum or average pay in their country.

 

[anasslaaleg]

Average Winning Player: A consistently winning professional poker player could expect a net income of between $50,000 and $200,000 per year if playing cash games or participating in major tournaments

 

[Mig32]

Who is a "professional poker player" and how much do you think they should earn?

For me, a professional poker player is someone who earns the majority (or all) of their income from playing poker. That includes not just grinding online or live cash/tournaments, but also potentially coaching, content creation, staking, etc. They treat the game like a business — with bankroll management, study time, and long-term strategy.

As for earnings, it's hard to put a fixed number on it. It depends a lot on where they live (cost of living), how often they play, and the games they focus on. Some might be comfortable earning $30–50k/year if they live modestly and love the lifestyle. Others at higher stakes or crushing major tours can earn six or even seven figures.

What's important is consistency. A real pro isn’t someone who just had a big tournament score once — it’s someone who can sustain results over years, through downswings, and still manage their finances and mental game.

 

[ManOfSky]

A professional poker player is someone who plays the game for a living — not just occasionally, but as their main source of income. They treat it like a business, with discipline, bankroll management, and constant study.