The reality of making a million a year

I wanted to respond about the recent posts stating seven figures should be the goal for talented card counters. If a team is organized and well-financed, they may have the capability to generate that level of income. But for an individual player to win that amount is very unlikely.

While it is certainly theoretically possible, it is practically remote. A good player with a top bet of $2000 would need to play 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, in order to expect a return of a million a year. Very few individual players ever chunk out that much and if they did, playing 40 hours a week is virtually impossible.

That is the reason many sharp people have moved into other fields and out of blackjack. It didn't mean they weren't skilled or winning players, but there are practical limits on how much anyone can earn in blackjack, and fewer limits in some other occupations.

I suspect that the poster who is talking about seven-figure incomes is including more than just blackjack play. It may be possible that there are a select few advantage players who make a million or more by playing a variety of games. When they do play blackjack, they are using techniques that go beyond garden-variety card counting and into other areas like hole-card play and more. I am taken aback by the seeming bitterness of at least one poster here whenever acknowledged blackjack experts like Wong or Schlesinger are given their due. The last thing the serious advantage players who are using other techniques want is for their playing styles to be exposed to full public view, for a number of reasons. If someone were to write a book exposing their styles and telling folks how to do it, then there would be some unhappy campers in that very small community. James Grosjean did some of it in his book Beyond Counting, but not enough to get to the cuticle of that style of play.

The disgruntled poster who is complaining about the fame of Wong, Schlesinger, Curtis, et al should stop and think for a moment. Does he really want his style of play exposed? If he doesn't, why come here and complain about blackjack players who aren't on the inside of his world?

Who is the "disgruntled" you are talking about? If it's who i think you're implying, you're wrong.

I don't know the name or regular handle, but when someone makes a post with the no text title "yeah, and you're "one of the world's top players" LOL !" it comes across to me as someone who is disgruntled. There have also been some very insulting posts that have been busted on this subject, particularly a few who have made personal attacks on one of our regular posters here.

millionaire through blackjack play...but it will take several years (probably a decade of steady winning). $100K is not all that uncommon...but requires a strong game and lots of hours.

The fastest way to BJ riches is by being a primary investor in a very successful team.

w/o getting 86ed.i think 100k is about tops and thats for the very driven.50k as a part time job is very probable.i cant comment on team play since i have a problem trusting my money with others.the edge is small enough w/o having to worry about someone stealing a 100 here and there.

as ignorant as I originally thought.

...because someone chooses not to comment on certain topics doesn't necessarily mean he is ignorant of them. For example, how often does the subject of card counting come up when you are at the table? Because you may choose not to discuss it doesn't mean you are ignorant of it. In fact, the opposite is true.

Why put the brakes on a train that is running fast, smooth and in the right direction?

You just go to the Venetian and, when the count climbs, spread to three hands of $50,000. You could easily make it to $1,000,000 before the end of the shoe.

When I met her, I was a billionaire! :) (Really, really old joke!)

I dont think I need to list all the reasons why.

Do you really think Cell Gazer is an advantage player seeking explanations?

You would stand a better chance of winning the lotto.

You are very right. There are many other ways of getting an edge where there are no pit bosses in your way, swings in the game, team members to rip you off, etc. I think that blackjack is a stepping stone that lets common man SEE things in a new way, and that having tasted blood, they can then smell it and find it from that point onward. Branching into other forms of advantage play becomes exciting. Not only having your eggs invested in different baskets is wise, having as many different forms of income coming in is what makes a small fortune for anyone.

All most people wish for is their house paid off, no mortgage, or rent fees, no bills. How can a man that holds that over his own head ever begin to dream of a million? Begin to think his way out from under the rock that people claim to hold them back in life? We give up too easy, but all of that begins to change when we begin to count. One card at a time. One red at a time. One green, one black at a time. 1K, 10K at a time. 10 x 10 x 10, 1 mill at a time.

"I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky"

sat- HOW TRUE, HOW TRUE.

our mortgage is paid but taxes are now twice the original payment.
They were 3 times the payment till we turned 65. I do fly-and the
sky has touched me.

Just words until you believe in them.....wink

Mayor, Anthony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within, an awesome book. Most people try to contain their giants by telling themselves fibs, feeding them junk food while they sit on couches and coaching the TV how to play games of sports.

"I coulda been a contender..........

Like I asked you many times before (or anyone else who cares to suggest an answer) what do you think is the max bet that counters limit themselves to? The answer is whatever they are comfortable getting away with. For some players this is higher than table max at the best joints. Your negative comments like this really detract from some of the better info you post here and I am sorry you seem so bitter about players that play bigger than you.