Online poker demographics

[dm34]

Anyone have info on this? My friend keeps trying to tell me that most players (amount and money-wise) are college students, but I disagree.

[Griffin]

I am interested in this too. I don't have an answer, but hope someone else does.

I also wonder how the demographics change as you move up in limits. I would think that the type of people playing 5/10 and higher are probably different from your typical 2/4 and lower limit players.

FWIW, I play limits between .5/1 and 2/4 and I'm a 37 year old, middle income, father of three.

[Webster]

Well - there are probebly a LOT of Students wasting mmmoney playing poorly (because of the WPT) but I'd say it runs the gamut! Probebly early 30's (I'm 50 and 2 friends of mine that play and win are 50's).

[luckycharms]

I just turned 18 two weeks ago /images/graemlins/blush.gif.... but I read up and win (last 2 months: +512) /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Roy Munson]

40 year old married man.
BS University of Maryland Class of 85

[JKratzer]

I turned 21 yesterday, attend the U of Iowa, have been playing poker online since I was 18, and have never bought in on a site more than the once. I have three roommates, two of whom each are winning online poker players (the other doesn't play). I know many people at college that play poker, few play online.

From my own experience, I think most online players are not college students, although there are a decent number. Also, I think the students are on average better. I give more credit to someone I know is in college, their money means more to them and not many college students can keep throwing money away if they're not good. I play mainly 1/2 NLHE, 50 or 100 SNG's, and occasionally some various limit games.

[Brian]

19 year old high school drop-out.

-Brian

[RustedCorpse]

24 ex military college student. 1/2 3/6 tables usually on Paradise poker.
I have a question in regards to online play as well, has anyone noticed the players usually seem to be a little more competent? My home/club games seem to have a lot more of the "no flop" mentality going on then I encounter in online play, speaking for the most part.

[Nottom]

I think in general online plays a little tougher than the comparable live game. I think there are more players out just to have a good time and gamble live then there are online.

[Nottom]

27 year old semi-drop out of Virginia Tech. Married with a kid on the way. Been working as a computer tech for the past 6 years or so at a local company and have begun to attend class again as a Math major so I can follow in Mason's footsteps.

[daryn]

22 year old (to be 23 in 2 weeks) college student, physics major, basically need 1 more class to graduate, play poker to pay for school and live a lavish life for a guy in my position. after graduation i will most likely continue playing poker until it ceases to become profitable, at which point i will attempt to use my degree to either get a job or continue my education. i also want to move to italy for some time within the next few years.

[daryn]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In risposta di:</font><hr />
has anyone noticed the players usually seem to be a little more competent?

[/ QUOTE ]


you obviously don't play on party

[Festus22]

40, father of 2, Physics degree (hoping to discuss complex conjugates with Daryn someday), management position in manufacturing.

Up a few $G's playing micro limits. Beats me why I don't try higher limits. Just a tight ass I guess.

[OrangeHeat]

26 father of 2. B.S. Mechanical Engineering '99 - still working as an engineer.

Been playing poker since I was 16 while working in a pool hall. Currently three 15/30 games at Party.

[scotnt73]

30 year old married father of 1 10 year old daughter. no college degree but i do goto the local junior college off and on to pick up computer certifications when my company tells me to which added up over the last 7 years would give me more college hours than most bachelor degree grads. i am a network admin for a very large defense contractor for the us govt. been beating 1/2 at party for about 2 months so i moved up to 2/4 last week full time for the first time and got my first taste of what i would consider good money for a part time job.

[rhwbullhead]

You said you think online play is better than live play. Are you playing on Paradise? I hear the games are tougher there. On Party, I see way more action than I ever see in a live game.

[Bubmack]

10 months ago - no one would have even argued the fact that online play was much tougher than live play. However, with the increase in marketing...the fish joined online play in droves...thus bringing the online game to an equivalent level as that of live play. However, it should probably be expected that these players will get better and the online game will once again be tougher than the live game.

Even at Party!! But if you want softer games...dont play at Paradise.

Bubs

[Bubmack]

30 yr - Father of 2 sons - as soon as they get this whole potty training thing down - we will quickly begin our hold'em training. I am a CPA and an MBA....However, currently I am an "internet marketer" and poker player full time. Life is sweet - and if I ever have to wear a tie again - I will be highly disappointed and saddened to the point depression.

Bubs

[Peter]

23, math teacher since the beginning of this school year. Started playing holdem while at university.

Peter

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

52, pre-sales consultant for a major Software Company. Married and divorced a couple of times. 1 grandkid.

Education - Boston University, BA (English &amp; Religion) MBA (Finance).

Spent time riding with a biker club and as a road manager for a rock band.

As the shirt I saw on an old geezer at Foxwoods said: "I've seen it all, I've heard it all, I've done it all. I just can't remember it all." /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Oh, yeah, I've been playing poker for about 35 years. decided to get serious about it about 15 months ago.

[squiffy]

Great post. Enjoy reading the testimonials. But this won't prove much as 2+2 posters are probably not the "typical" online Party players.

Why wouldn't there be tons of college students? Though they may not have huge bankrolls. A more meaningful comparison from a marketing standpoint may be how much rake is paid by each group. And you need to have some idea how you define the demographics. By age, income, gender, etc.

Probably middle aged working men have more disposable income, less time. So how do you weigh how much time spent online, vs. at how high a limit, vs. how much money won, lost, rake paid, etc?

38 lawyer working for trial court judges doing legal research and writing bench memos, but praying like hell for early retirement by age 48 or 50, if I can make enough money from real estate, stocks, and hopefully now POKER.

[dm34]

I agree that there are plenty of college students - probably a higher percentage in that group play than any other. However, I doubt that they are a majority and am especially sure that they don't generate a majority of the rake.

[RustedCorpse]

Nope, paradise, can't stand party's interface. The wierd avatar's scare me late at night.

[WillMagic]

18-year-old college "student"
Discovered the game six months ago

I play mainly 3/6, 3-4 tables at a time.

Will

[esknights]

Just graduated. Play mostly 1/2

[bunky9590]

32 year old, Married, 1 daughter (almost 4 years old)
Own Landscape companny, college degree double major
Business management and Ornamental Horticulture.

Playing for 6 years, serious for like a year.

[gibs]

22 year old college student at Kansas State University, accounting major. Quit playing baseball after freshman year of college so needed to find something to help me stay competitive. Play mostly 5/10 when I'm not busy with class to earn some extra money to go blow at the bars.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

The wierd avatar's scare me late at night.

You know you *can* turn them off.

[Nottom]

I don't mind them except for that one guy in the upper right corner (2 seat maybe?) he's scary.

[DrPhysic]

Long time above average kitchen table poker player. Like a lot of others, I discovered online poker due to WPT on TV, guess that makes me one of the new fish. Online since September. Reading (and studying) everything I can get my hands on re: poker, statistics, tournament play, etc. Studying NLHE. May be a long time before I think I would play O8B or similar. Getting better quickly. -EV first month, +EV since.

Play 1-2 and 2-4 limit at Stars as well as NLHE tournaments.

Degrees in Physics, Michigan State, 1967. Long time industrial executive. Own a business (industrial electronics) since '85. Will be 60 in April.

DrPhysic

"If poker is the answer, What was the question?"

[balt999]

This is a very interesting topic.

30 years, single, I have a BS Marketing, no kids...I'm in the military.

[PinkyRingo]

25, happily married for 3.5 years, no kids (yet)

B.S. Computer Science Furman University '00

Party 5/10, occasional NL ring games and SNGs for variety.

[Joe Tall]

31 happily single.
No kids (or none that I know of yet).
Playing poker for over 20 years.
Playing seriously and online for 1 year.
BS Civil Engineering.

Peace,
JT

[coolhandsun]

Just out of college (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford) and work on the Pacific Exchange learning to trade options as a market maker. 23 yo, single male.

Its pretty amusing, when I walk around the floor there are a couple of clerks who are pretty much guaranteed to be playing poker online. One of them got pissed when I mentioned it to him, since he clearly had his screen turned away from his trader and didn't want his trader to know he was slacking.

I don't play at work, too distracting(both ways), but do peruse these forums.

Picked up poker 2 months ago as a way to kill time. I get off work at 2 p.m. (start at 5 am) so I have hella time in the afternoon.

G

[CCass]

36, married, 3 children, BS in Accounting

I have been "gambling" since I was 15 years old, best friend's dad owned the local pool hall, learned to play cards there. WPT got me interested in Hold-em / on-line play. Been playing since September. Not +EV yet, but getting there thanks to these forums and reading HPFAP. TOP is my next read.

[TylerD]

Good topic, very interesting posts. I'm a 22 year old, recent BSc Computer and Management Science graduate soon to become teacher unless more interesting comes my way (winning the WSOP should suffice).

[mrpurple]

35 happily single. Few credits shy of a masters in Philosophy that will never get finished. I ended up working in collections as a temp job and stayed for the bonus checks.

I was always was interested in poker. Never really knew people who played. Long time chess player. WPT got me hooked. I approached it the same way I aproached chess. lots of study. been playing about 9 months. I was negative EV first 3 months. Happily positive since.

I play mainly 2-4 on party 2 tables at a time. I move up to 3-6 occasionally. But, I think all the calling stations make $2-$4 more profitable then $3-6.

I'm agressively paying off credit card with my winnings. When thats done I plan on getting alot more serious about my game and moving up.

[eMarkM]

37 yr old white male. Software developer. Married, kids 3 yrs and 8 weeks (you know how hard it is to play 3 tables at once while trying to calm a colicy baby). Playing seriously for 2 years. Much gambling in past: Hustled pool in my youth and played the stock market very seriously during the bubble.

[JTrout]

38 yr. old. '88 grad of Ole Miss. Business Mgmt.
--
Became interested in poker when Rounders came out, then the World Poker Open came to Tunica. 2 1/2 yrs of casino play, then got hooked on online play. 6 months of mostly 3-6 party.
-----

[IlliniRyRy]

23 year old economics graduate from the University of Illinois, I'm an electronic bond futures trader for a proprietary firm in Chicago, and I've been playing poker online for a couple years now. Made about $13,000 or so lifetime playing mostly 1-2 and 2-4, but now I'm playing 3-6. Poker has been a huge part of my income and I play a ton on party.

[James Boston]

1) What amount of money do most online players start with?
2) What percentage of their disposable income would this be?
3) How many hours per week do they play?
4) What are the most popular times to play?

The reponses to the original post were very interesting. I'm a 23 college student myself. This led me to my questions. I read several responses from people around my age who are playing limits higher than I could afford (300 BB bankroll). This made me wonder how they started their bankroll and how much the hypothetical loss of that bankroll would have hurt them financially. It also made me wonder if the older players who work full time and play poker part time invested a larger chunk of their money into starting their part-time poker careers. I also can't see how college students spend enough time playing to show alot of profit. I can't find that much time. However, I'm not very disciplined when it comes to poker. I'm very disciplined when I'm actually playing, but I get bored too easily playing online and tend to want to quit before I give it enough time. Just some questions I have.

[James Boston]

[IlliniRyRy]

Hey, here are my answers to your questions, I'd say that a good % of the people out there our age would say the same thing.

1) What amount of money do most online players start with?

I started off playing 1-2 online in college, if you read some books and play the way you're supposed to, you'll find that the players at that level are absolutely atrocious, and you don't really need a 'bankroll'. Just a couple hundred bucks and you can theoretically run that bitch up to infinity. I made several thousand, periodically cashed out and moved up. I never played with an amount that would affect me if I lost it.


2) What percentage of their disposable income would this be?

A very small %. Besides, if you have to keep buying in, then you're doing something wrong.

3) How many hours per week do they play?

Probably 15 on average. Over the last few months, I've been playing 3 games of 3-6 simulatenously and I've played closer to 30 hours a week and made $30/hr.

4) What are the most popular times to play?

Nighttime is the most packed, especially on the weekends. If you play on party/empire/multipoker, you can always find plenty of games at any time.

[James Boston]

I have to disagree. The short-term luck factor is too great. I'm not saying it's impossible, but just putting a small amount of money into poker and counting on your poker skills to hold up won't work as easily as you make it sound. Even great poker players have bad runs. I'm not great, but I got cocky and found this out the hard way. I kept putting in small amounts into Party and loosing it. I didn't have enough to make it through the runs of bad beats and cold cards. I wasn't playing badly, I just wasn't investing enough into it. I thought that my skills would allow me to build a bankroll quickly. I don't think I'm the only person that has had this happen.

[mikeklein]

55 year old male. D.Sc. in psychology. TV director. Crap poker player but banned everywhere in UK playing BJ. Now satisfy my gambling drives by making TV docs about the subject.

[Redleg7]

Originally from the Island of Guam (quite possibly the only one on this forum)

39 and Married.

Recently retired from the Army at 37, actually I've "transitioned" from the Army since I still have to work.

No real college education although the time I spent in the Army seems to satisfy my employer Northrop Grumman. Actually I'm making up for lost time by pursuing a CIS degree.

Play mostly 3/6 and below, at party or stars.

[cjx]

23 single male, never finished college. I am working as an IT Admin guy for a magazine company in Boston, MA. Have always had the gambling bug and played various card games from poker and spades to Magic the Gathering and Lord of the Rings CCG. Only realized there was such a thing as internet poker when I saw the WPT ... after I clear the holiday $100 Party deposit bonus I will have earned back what I spent learning :-). I now happily grind .5-1 to 2-4 on Party and Empire.

cjx

[The Bear]

23 year old '02 grad from Middlebury College (BA in Economics). Been playing seriously since junior year of college. Quit the corporate world 7 months ago to play poker for a living.

[Aces McGee]

This is sort of a fun thread.

23 year old white male, graduated college in 2002. I was a double major in journalism and philosophy and am currently working as a writer/editor at a trade magazine. I played a little poker when I was in high school, but of the nickel/dime/quarter variety, and mostly draw. I was better than my friends, but that isn't saying much. Played a lot of cards in college: hearts, cribbage, bridge, pinochle, etc...got interested in hold 'em from Rounders, and have been playing semi-seriously for a little less than a year.

To answer your questions:

1)I started playing the play money tables for fun, and didn't think I'd ever play for real money (pther than home games), but I entered a NLHE freeroll satellite for a bigger NLHE freeroll at Absolute Poker. I finished 50th out of 100 in my satellite, but they gave everyone who played $10. Since I couldn't cash it out without first depositing, I figured I'd play with it a little and see if I could build it up to a point where it'd be worth it to deposit and cash out. Started at the lowest level they had at the time, 50c/1.00, and was lucky enough to get good enough cards to not go bust with only 10BB. Since then, I've earned around $1800 online at the 50c/1.00 and 1/2 limits at various sites, and am getting ready to make the jump to 2/4, which I play live (3 trips to AC, one to Foxwoods, and a 20 hours at the 4/8 half kill over one weekend at Sandia Casino in Albuquerque). I play mostly for fun and because I enjoy the strategy and competition, though I certainly don't mind the extra money. Not exactly an answer to your question, but interesting, at least to me.

2) I've deposited $100 into online poker, but cashed that out as soon as it cleared, so I'm playing with money I've won. My poker bankroll is for poker only, so it doesn't represent any of my disposable income. I make enough at my job to live reasonably well for a 23-year-old and to sock away a buck or two for the future.

3. It's pretty irregular, but I play probably ten hours a week on average over the last few months.

4. I play at night and on weekends.

McGee

[obex]

31 yo M. Neurosurgeon. Started counting cards, playing BJ 10 yrs ago. Too many shoes, pit bosses giving heat, fluctuations. Only good game in downtown Vegas because of rules and lack of single decks.
Been concentrating more on hold'em over last year. Playing mostly 1/2 and 2/4 ring games. Just started on 6 max games which have so far been very profitable.
I think we've established the profile of forum players. The profile of Party players I think remains largely unknown. My question: are there ANY women in the forum?

[bigjay]

29 year old (30 in Feb) married father of 8 month old twins (boy and girl). I'm a nurse, graduated from McMaster University in 97, working fulltime plus usually a shift or two of overtime. Also was a nationally ranked judo player for fifteen years or so back in the day, now practice a bit just to keep fit.

1) I started with $60. Put it in at Golden Tiger (Prima) but then discovered their freerolls, back when they were running NL tourneys from 1-5 in the morning, paid 20-15-10. This helped bolster my tiny BR through my growing pains, I really had no idea of how to play hold'em back then (September). Much better now.

2) As with others, my BR is all profit. Have paid back much more than my initial entry. I would never let my poker playing affect my real income or life negatively... I value my life too much (wife would kill me). My bankroll steadily increases so this doesn't look like it'll be an issue. My goal initially was to use poker to finance my kids education fund (3 grand a year) but I've already passed this. Now looking at an extra vacation or possibly a boob job for the wife (her idea, not mine). On a side note, she thinks I play for play money so is she ever gonna be surprised...

3) I usually log 1-2 hours a day. Depends on my day, how the kids are, what other stuff I have going on.

4) Depends on what I'm working. Since I do shift, I'm often up later if I'm coming off nights. I usually play in late evening when the kids are in bed.

[IMRichB]

Male, 38, married with 1.9 kids (2nd one due in 4 weeks /images/graemlins/laugh.gif).
Software product manager with an MBA from U of Michigan.
Just got interested in poker a little less than a year ago.

1) I started by depositing $20 at Paradise. I played and won 3 $10+1 SNGs in a row and haven't deposited anything since. Of course I've since realized that I had no idea what I was doing and then started reading and learning. I eventually switched over to Party and have built my original $20 into $700.

2) Very small % of income (see #1)

3) I play probably 5-10 hours a week, mostly at $1/2 working my way towards $2/4 when my bankroll gets to $800.

4) I almost always play at night, usually 9:00 EST and later.

Interesting to learn about others here, good post.

Rich B.

[bicyclekick]

20 y/o college student studyign computer science at University of Minnesota: Morris.

Just broke up with the gf of 2 years...so single for now.

Started with $50 on party and played 3 table .50/1 til i got to 300. Then have played 3 table 2/4 and am up to about $1600.

All that 2/4 is since like dec. 20th too...god bless winter break...

[James282]

22 White Male in a "serious relationship" - Started playing online poker my freshman year in college with no poker experience at all. I deposited 50 bucks three times and lost it all every time playing .5/1 on Paradise. My friend emailed me the starting hands selection from WLLHE and I turned 50 bucks into 150, and then lost that all again. Bought WLLHE, turned 50 into 400, played 2/4 and lost it all again. Took a summer off, came back and promised myself to follow 300 BB guidelines and bought HPFAP, played .5/1 up to 3/6 on Paradise and built a bankroll of about 2k.. I lost most of that playing the 400 dollar PLO game on Paradise, cashed out 500 and left 100 in Paradise, and bought TOP and TPFAP. I then actually followed BB guidelines and dumped 500 into Party for the bonus. Over the last year and a half or so I moved into 5/10 and 10/20 shorthanded and full games. My best version of poker by far is the 50 and 100 dollar SNGs on Party, but I get too bored with them. I try to cash out about 3-4k a month for car payments, rent, back loans, and other personal expenses, and I keep about 10-12k handy for my poker bankroll as much as I can. I still have trouble dabbling in games way above my bankroll, but I am a lot better now than I used to be so it isn't as painful /images/graemlins/smile.gif I try and play about 20-30 hours a week.
-James

[John Deere]

21 years old. Graduated last week with a B.S. in computer science from the University of Maryland. Now living in DC and starting work next week for a B2B software development firm in Tyson's Corner, VA.

Started playing a year ago and reading and studying pretty passively, making infrequent trips to AC. Really got educated and thinking more seriously following a trip to Vegas two weeks ago. Started playing $0.50/$1 on Party about 5 days ago with $50, and am currently at about $130. When I start work, I expect to play one or two hours every night.

[noddyholder]

37 years old married with 3 kids. Have been playing online for 3 months. College education.

[luckycharms]

Just turned 18 one month ago, been playing ring games for about half a year now. Deposited $50 into Party about 3 months ago, played .5/1 and worked it up to $150, lost it all on a huge tilt session.
Currently play home ring games, with initial deposit of $20 which is now $520 (over the last 75 days) Play about an hour of poker a day. Just finished Caro's Tells and TOP. Goal for the year: establish a good bankroll online and enter a WPT satelite (sounds ridiculous, but would be a lot of fun)

[Shaun]

25 years old. Been playing poker since I was 19. Online since I was 21. Poker got me through college. I have a virtually useless Humanities degree and planned on going to graduate school until recently, when I decided that getting thousands of dollars into debt to make little money in the world of academia was a bad idea. I may still go to grad school at some point, but probably not for at least a year.

I have been playing for a living since August.

Anyway I love poker, and no matter what I am going to do in the future, poker will always be a source of enjoyment (and cash hopefully) for me.