Full Time Players (i.e. no 'real' job)

GoodOL · #1 10-16-2005, 04:51 PM

I wasn't exactly sure where to post these questions...I thought this was the best place since it seems many who post here are playing full time.

1. How do you answer applications asking for your occupation (loan applications, tax returns, etc.)? For whatever reasons, I am hesitant to put 'poker player' on any documents.

2. How are the big name pros running their business? Do they create a separate entity (eg. create a corporation)...or do they simply play under their names? I'm looking for some business help regarding playing poker for a living.

GoodOL · #2 10-16-2005, 10:41 PM

Anyone?

#3 10-16-2005, 10:42 PM

try the search functino there about 2 million threads with really in depth answers on the subj.

GoodOL · #4 10-16-2005, 10:50 PM

Ah...I knew I forgot something....thanks!

I forgot to say "I've tried the search function with no luck"

CardSharpCook · #5 10-16-2005, 11:14 PM

This is my 1st year with poker as only job. I figure I'm just reporting gambling income on my taxes. Why would I do anything different? As for Loan Apps. Professional Poker Player sounds better than Pro Gambler.

kerrizor · #6 10-17-2005, 02:38 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I wasn't exactly sure where to post these questions...I thought this was the best place since it seems many who post here are playing full time.

1. How do you answer applications asking for your occupation (loan applications, tax returns, etc.)? For whatever reasons, I am hesitant to put 'poker player' on any documents.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have a "real" job myself, being a contract programmer, but I run into something similar since I can literally go 3-4 months between contracts. "self employed" is a good one, as is -- depending on your location -- simply saying "contractor" My bank was hassling me about a car loan that I was consistently behind on until I told them "look, I'm an independant contractor" and their response was (surprisingly enough) along the lines of "Oh! Why didn't you say so?"

..so yeah, not exactly the same, but if you don't want to put down "degenerate gambler" put down something vague and ill-defined.. as long as its not a legally binding document, who honestly cares? (I once listed myself as "used pacemaker saleswoman" on a form..)