IRA Help for a Professional Poker Player

[TheMetetron]

First of all... why the hell would I want to open an IRA? I tried to ask this is Internet Gambling and everyone was running around with their head cut off.

I'm not willing to concede that as a self-employed individual I will be making less between 60-70 years of age than I am now. It's definitely not a certainty.

Also, if someone can convince me to open an IRA and why, what is the best kind to open?

I make between 150-250k per year. I don't own a home (yet). My savings are low for my yearly earn. I maybe have 40k in liquid assets as of now.

Help?

Edit: I tried to search. That was useless.

Also, why wouldn't I want to just take the money and invest it on my own. Then I don't have to worry about some stupid 10% early withdrawal fee in case I need the money?