Earning a six-figure income by playing blackjack is like a dream come true for gamblers. Many pro blackjack players rose to fame by winning millions yearly through gambling events. That said, a blackjack professional has the potential to win against the house.
It may sound fun and lucrative, but here’s a catch. Reaching the professional level requires hard work and patience.
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How Much Do Blackjack Players Make?
Some pro blackjack players make over $150,000 annually through this career. However, the possibility is far from reality. The income varies from one gambler to another. It means there’s no stable income bracket in this career.
Several factors play a crucial role in estimating the annual income of a professional blackjack gambler. It includes expertise, counting techniques, blackjack variant, bankroll, number of hands played, time spent, and table limits.
Further, a player’s travel cost for visiting the casino club impacts earnings. It can vary based on the distance between the casino and your place. Thus, evaluating an exact figure isn’t easy for blackjack professionals.
How to Become a Successful Blackjack Player?
Blackjack is a skill-based game that allows seasoned players to build a successful career out of this game. Unlike other casino games, blackjack has a lesser house edge that you can use in your favor at the dealer table.
Once you understand the real money blackjack rules and strategies, it’s time to turn in the second and most valuable chapter of card counting. A card counter can better predict cards drawn from the deck. The goal is to beat the dealer’s hand by having a higher point total, but not over 21.
You can raise your bet when you hold an edge over the house. However, your wager can vary from one to four units as the house advantage decreases or increases.
Besides, your earning from this table game depends on the blackjack hand values. So you can expect a positive value with high positive counts in card counting. On the other hand, expect a negative value with the negative hands.
Professional blackjack players take advantage of this situation by applying a well-planned strategy to boost their bankroll. For instance, they’ll usually place a small stake on negative counts.
Of course, you can’t master the card-counting technique overnight. It’s a tricky approach that requires you to memorize all the cards that are no longer in play during the gambling event. So invest time and energy to master the game before you play high stake bets to earn big.
How Much Can You Expect to Earn from Blackjack Game?
Based on their expertise and game knowledge, blackjack professionals earn an average of $15,000 to $500,000 annually. High rollers can even make more out of this career!
So how much blackjack players can make in a year depends on their skills and bankroll. Thus, it’s crucial to ace to card counting technique to plan the right winning strategy.
5 Famous Blackjack Professionals Who Won Big
Don Johnson: In just six months, the blackjack legend built a bankroll of $15 million by beating Atlantic City casinos.
Big Chuck Gorson: A professional blackjack player known for earning six-figure income for 15 years. However, he also indulged in other casino games during his career.
Edward O. Thorp: Thorp was the inventor of the card-counting technique. A mathematics genius and professor started playing blackjack as a side gig. His contributions also earned him a spot in the Blackjack Hall of Fame. He’s also the author of the blackjack book “Beat the Dealer.”
Thomas Hyland: Lawrence Revere inspired Hyland to pursue blackjack as his career path. He built a team of four in 1979 who earned around fifty thousand dollars within a few months. Rest is the history.
Cathy “Cat” Hulbert: Popular as the best female blackjack professional, Cathy joined Ken Uston’s blackjack team. Initially, she was a blackjack dealer.
Tips to Become a Professional Blackjack Player
Check out some expert-recommended tips to build your bank balance with a blackjack career.
- Never quit your job to play blackjack with a few dollars in your hand. Slowly build your bankroll for high stake betting.
- The more decks, the more challenging it’s to keep a count track. So choose a fewer-deck blackjack game.
- If you’re on a winning streak, increase your wager a bit. Lower your bet amount again when you start losing.
- Pit bosses may throw you out or restrict you from playing if you continuously win large bets.
- Many renowned blackjack professionals won big by forming a team. Follow the lead to boost your winning chances.
- Never drink and play.
- Gamble at different casinos and pits.
- Losing at a blackjack game is inevitable. So know when to stop.
- Keep calm and stick to your betting strategy.
FAQs
- Can you earn a living playing blackjack?
Yes, if you know the gaming rules inside and out. With determination, practice, and experience, you can earn good revenue while playing blackjack. Since it’s a game of skill more than luck, you can beat the house more often.
- Who is the highest-paid blackjack player?
Corporate executive blackjack player Don Johnson earned the highest in this game till now. He won over $15 million against three casino venues, including Tropicana, Borgata, and Caesars.
- What is the average win-loss in blackjack?
The winning probability ranges between 42% and 43%. However, anything can happen in the short run. It means your odds of losing the game can be 47% to 49%.
- What is the 777 rule in blackjack?
You’ll win if one of the two cards is number 7. If both cards are 7s, your payout amount will increase. You’ll earn a bigger cash prize if a dealer’s upcard is also a 7. Hence, the 777 rule.
Final Words
This career path isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a game of grind, learning, and patience.
Earning a living through blackjack gaming can be stressful initially till you ace the technique. So make sure to enter this profession with realistic expectations. As an adage goes, “Practice makes the person perfect,” the same is true for professional blackjack players.
Like any casino game, nobody can win every bet. Hence, no two blackjack players can earn the same.
