Quote from richrf:
Stick with poker. It is a more honest game.![]()

Quote from The Tripster:
I'm curious to hear how the responses will be different asking this in a trading forum vs. the ones that are posted on poker forums. I've been playing poker for about 4-5 years and have made good money from it while going to a good college; around $275K-$325K. I have an interest in the markets and I should naturallly be able to progress into becoming a good trader because of the similarities in the pyschological side of both of them. I graduate with a Finance major this semester and I'm at the turning point in deciding if I should just stick with poker or become a trader. I've gotten offers from top tier prop trading firms. I have also opened up an account at Tradestation and trade the e-mini S&P and NASDAQ with some minor success and I enjoy doing it. In terms of compensation in both, I would expect to make between 200K-400K a year in poker playing ~30 hours a week, and obv no idea in trading (in terms of profit splits). Other factors that I'm debating are how I would rather be in a social environment vs. at home just playing poker or trading. The negative to that is how I have to have set hours plus a boss and can't take off whenever I want to do random things. The freedom of playing poker is a huge factor for me because I'm not used to being in any other type of environment. I had an internship last year and enjoyed it, and I didn't mind the set schedule, but considering that was for only 3 months vs. a full time job might change my mind. Based on these set of facts, do you think I should stick with poker or give trading at a good firm a shot?
Quote from LEAPup:
You stick with poker and you'll be broke sooner than later. It's a sucker's game especially when you go to Vegas. If you win in Vegas get out fast. I mean fast! It won't last. I know. I have a family member who cannot go into ANY casino in Vegas because he KNOWS how to break the roulette wheel. He's also a Ph.D who teaches probabilities. He was "asked" not to come back... You're better off with penny stocks imo. It would better for your health to trade stocks... Good luck!
Quote from Joab:
Trading is a CAREER for life and should be approached with that mind set.
If you can see yourself playing poker for the rest of your life day in and day out then just do that if not then try trading and see if you like what it offers.
Quote from sammybea:
Conversely, most people can't find even a slim number of traders who are successful over time. Its not that poker players have better skills than traders, but to be successful in trading takes FAR more than just to have to certain inherent skills.
The only people who truly win will always be the house (the casino and the prop firm owners)
Quote from thedewar:
play poker fulltime study markets, then slowly make a transition pending on how successful you become...
200k+ a year is more than alot of traders will make...
in reality you'll just need to gauge how much you think you could make trading based on position size and trading strategy then compare that to what you can make playing poker....
however your earnings can also be compounded trading.... and possibly more readily than they would playing poker...
personally i'd try and balance both if you're only working 30h a week playing poker
Quote from MGJ:
Invest the same number of hours learning to trade, that you invested learning to play poker. Then when you know how, you'll also have an appreciation of your own personal +EV as a trader. You'll be in a good position to decide which you like better, at that time and place in your life: trading or poker.