Online poker demographics - Page 5

James Boston · #41 12-27-2003, 04:24 AM

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 · #42 12-27-2003, 06:17 PM

IlliniRyRy · #43 12-29-2003, 03:56 PM

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 · #44 12-29-2003, 06:48 PM

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 · #45 12-29-2003, 07:28 PM

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 · #46 12-30-2003, 11:08 AM

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 · #47 12-30-2003, 11:53 AM

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 · #48 12-30-2003, 01:38 PM

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 · #49 12-30-2003, 02:26 PM

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 · #50 12-31-2003, 06:17 PM

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?