This university kid (about to graduate) posted this thread on Reddit. Apparently he wants to become a professional gambler – as his life’s career simply because he hit a set of hot streaks.
I started EV betting properly around 6 months ago and have made around €25,000. I know if I lock in to betting full time I could easily make 6 figures annually tax free. I’m gonna finish university in 6 weeks with a good degree and could go straight into a solid career (actuary), but I don’t think I want to. I’d make less and I highly doubt I’d enjoy it, but obviously there’s career progression etc. I really don’t know what to do, I could work for myself, live anywhere I want, or I can grind away at my career and just do some betting when I can. Any advice would be appreciated.
Let’s drill down his dreams into the wall.
You’re at a big moment right now. You’ve made €25,000 in six months from EV betting and think you could make six figures a year, tax-free, if you go full-time. But you’re also six weeks from finishing university with a degree that could get you a solid job as an actuary. You’re not sure you’d enjoy that job, and it’d pay less, but it’s stable and has growth. You’re torn between betting for yourself and living anywhere or starting a career and maybe betting on the side.
You’ve done well with EV betting; €25,000 in six months is impressive. You’re finding bets where the odds are better than the real chances, which feels like a smart move, not just luck. You’re picturing a life where you make big money, work when you want, and live wherever. No boss, no office, just you and your profits. It’s a dream, but it’s built on shaky ground.
The hard truth is that gambling, even with a strategy like EV betting, isn’t a sustainable way to make money. Bookmakers are out to protect their profits, not yours. They’ll limit your bets or ban you if you win too much, and scaling up to six figures will make you a target. You’d need to juggle multiple accounts or use shady offshore platforms, which can be risky or illegal. Betting markets also get tighter as bookmakers fix their odds, and staying ahead means constant work against tougher competition. The stress of losing streaks, even when you’re “right,” can wear you down. Sure, you’ve made €25,000, but that’s a hot streak, not a guarantee. Most gamblers, even smart ones, lose in the end because the system is rigged against you. Believing you’ll be the exception is a delusion that’s burned plenty of people.
I have also written about students losing a lot of money to gambling. For example this kid lost thousands to gambling, while another one is contemplating deleting his betting app (which I recommend).
Here are a few responses from fellow Redditors who want to slap him with some hard truths:
Everyone I’ve met who goes pro regrets it. All say it’s becomes work, not enjoyable anymore, and very tough racket, especially when your bills and livelihood depend on it. Keep it as a side hustle and do good things with the winnings. My 2 cents.
What does ev betting precisely consist of?
Is this sports betting at different sites until you can find a proper arbitrage? What’s to say your monetary threshold is exactly what’s keeping you in the game? Imagine if you bet higher and get limited?
There’s probably a reason it’s kept just above a hobby and not a real job
The fact that you are posting this here tells me you’re not a good enough gambler to support yourself for the rest of your life. You are young and should try your career for a bit. If you don’t do anything after college it will hurt your earnings for the rest of your life. And if you’re truly as good as you think you are it won’t matter. You should be able to make enough to fire out if you’re at all responsible with money relativity quick.
Just do it on the side and don’t support yourself off it, and put away a chunk of your winnings, and you’ll be set in no time.
But hey I get it. I was young and stupid once as well. So good luck on your gambling career.
Your degree can get you a job as an actuary, where you’d use math to figure out risks; similar skills to betting, but with actual security. You could start at €40,000–€60,000, and later earn over €100,000. It’s a steady paycheck with benefits and a clear path to move up. You could even bet a little on the side for fun, without betting your whole future.
You’ve said you might not love the job, and that’s fair. It could feel like a grind, with long hours and exams to pass. You’d probably be in an office, at least at first, and the pay won’t match what you dream of from betting. But unlike gambling, this is a real plan. You’d have a safety net, skills that open doors, and a life that doesn’t depend on bookmakers playing nice. Gambling’s highs are tempting, but a career gives you something solid to stand on.
- Betting full-time means no steady income, no benefits, and no safety if bookmakers shut you down. A job gives you a paycheck you can count on, even if it’s less exciting.
- Betting seems free, but it’s lonely and stressful when things go wrong. A job has structure and people around you, even if it’s less flexible. What’s going to keep you happy day-to-day?
- Where do you want to be in 10 years? Betting might seem great now, but what happens when it stops working? A job builds skills and a backup plan.
- It’s delusional to think gambling will keep paying off. The odds are stacked against you, no matter how smart you are. A career might not be thrilling, but it’s not a fantasy.
Here are few more reasonable responses posted in that thread to try to sway him away:
As a poker player, I will say that gambling landscapes change. You might make a good living for a while, but in 2, 5, or maybe 10 years, the books could start widening their vig and your whole career would fall out from under you. Then you’d be back applying for an entry level job as an actuary, but you’ll be rusty, have less up-to-date training, and be competing against people who can still quote from their textbooks and sound smarter than you.
As an actuary and sports bettor, you should be an expert in risk management, so do what you think is best. But it sounds terrible to me.
There were two supportive responses too who did no diss this idea:
Me and a group of friends payed for our college tuition (almost 1 million dollars combined) just on sports betting with a bit of online casinos and playing the stock market. It takes some hard work but you’ll get there eventually.
I do both career (Software Development) maintain my regular paycheck with my bank Gambling maintain my balance in a Crypto portfolio were I’ve been able to earn over 45k just be smart.
But I believe this one nailed it:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Wait … you’re serious?
You’re sharp with numbers and cool under pressure, which is why you’ve done well with betting. Those same skills would make you great as an actuary. The question is whether you want to chase a risky dream or build something real. Gambling feels like freedom, but it’s a house of cards. A career might feel boring, but it’s a foundation you can grow from.
Betting’s risks are too high to make it your whole plan, especially when you’re so close to a solid career. Start your actuary job to get a steady income and experience. If you want, bet a little on the side to see if you can keep up your €25,000 pace over the next six months; track everything, including any bookmaker limits. After a year, check where you’re at: if betting’s still fun and profitable as a hobby, great. But don’t quit your job for it. Gambling’s not a career; it’s a side gig at best. Your degree gives you a real shot at a future you can control.
You’re doing great, but don’t let a hot streak fool you into thinking gambling’s a plan. Pick the path that’s real.