Can you be a professional Gambler?

TheOddsKing Editor Exclusive: A female perspective from one of the Asian’s Top 10 13 Cards Player

Gambling is one of the oldest known pursuits of mankind. Many may view gambling as a habit, an insignificant past time, or rather a sport. Some argued that professional gambling is glamorized by all the movies that was all the rage in the 1990s.

How many Professional Gamblers in the world that is renowned? How do you actually become a Professional Gambler?

It all began in 1970, where the seeds for the poker boom were planted when the World Series of Poker began, introducing poker players to the concept of the poker tournament. Thus, bringing about the credibility of the title of "Professional Gambler / Poker Player".

World Series of Poker made way for many other Poker tournaments emergence within the industry. One of these well popularized tournaments includes the Asian Poker Tour, boasting itself as the original and largest poker tour in Asia. Founded initially by Singapore based "Capital Events Pte", Asian Poker Tour brand was acquired by AsianLogic in early 2008 and has held 3 successful events following the ownership.

®

APT's first championship event in May 2008 was held at the ultra modern Dusit Thani Manila Hotel, Philippines. Offering a US$1 million guaranteed prize pool, the event had attracted more than 400 poker players from around the globe, namely Korea, Thailand, Australia, USA, UK, Germany, Italy and surely Philippines. The buy-in is $2,500 which also includes a chance of winning an all-expense paid trip as well as the buy-in.

®

Other than its amazingly attractive prize, APT held a press conference in the Philippines as well as a celebrity charity invitational poker tournament as part of its marketing campaigns to promote the Tour, announcing APT's presence in the Poker industry. Moreover, APT was able to pool resources from its affiliates and partners within the industry in sponsoring the grand occasion.

®

Though the main event was the real attraction to the tournament, one of Asia's most popular and all time favorite poker game “13 Cards” was also part of the program. Sponsored by 12Bet.com, besides being a game of chance, this poker game is similar to Texas Holdem and require skills and strategies to gain any form of advantage over your opponents. (Check out my section on how to play 13 Cards Poker here)

	®
	®

Unlike its much publicized Holdem counterpart, “13 Cards” is gaining fast popularity as the Asian’s version of Texas Holdem. About 80 participants registered to compete in this event, with a majority coming from the Philippines, Korea, China and Vietnam. Contestants are required a buy in of US$500 to get $2,500 worth of chips. There was then a draw of table numbers to determine the tables that they would be assigned to. 13 Cards is best played with 4 players. However 5 players are assigned to 1 table at a time and as the dealer goes around the table, the player closest to the dealer will sit out that particular hand.

The game starts with standard rules and payout begin with 1 unit earning $50 and clean sweep groups earning bonus units. The payout for each unit will subsequently increase as time goes by.

The game would go on for 15 hands in each table before changing tables to avoid collusion and for some players, a change of their luck. The competition would continue and players battle it out to be the last man standing. Players who loses all their chips in hand were then out of the tournament, and one-by-one, the initial 80 contestants were narrowed down to the final 10.

In a game where male dominance is apparent, 3 female contenders, 2 Koreans and a Vietnamese, braved the masculine battlefield. Miss Jen Y emerged 8th overall and as quoted by her supporters & comrades, hailed her the “Asia’s Queen of 13Cards”.

Miss Jen Y is a close friend of TheOddsking. I made the trip to Manila to witness the first APT and I can reveal that I was on scene to witness the event when Jen Y came in the final 8.

“It did come as a surprise for me. I didn't expect that I would have made it to top 10. But I was sure glad I did!”

Jen Y is not your idea of a professional. She holds a day time job but she plays 13Cards online almost religiously. We both got to know each other in a cardroom years ago when we were honing our skills and has since kept in touch, sharing strategies and information about online casinos. My main aim to Manila was to witness the APT and Jen Y’s participation was my push factor. Come on! I have to support my friend right?

It was already late into the night and after a few hours of action, the field narrowed to the final 10 and Jen was the only female contender. Jen Y was in a good position having the most chips in hand among others after a sizzling preliminary. However her cards in the final crucial round ran out of steam and eventually have to settle for 8th. Hey, no small feat for a lady in this man dominated field. RESPECT!

I asked if she would join any more tournaments and would she consider herself a Professional Gambler?

“I'd definitely join another tournament! It’s not just an exciting experience but also a challenging one! I love a challenge!”

“Professional? Sure! In my own mind and spirit, I am always a professional and a winner!”

Wanna be a professional gambler? You decide if you have the guts and means to be one.


**NOTE: Any product/service names, logos, icons, brand name, trade dress, and other trademarks/service marks featured, referred to, or appearing on this Website are the property of their respective trademark holders. These trademark holders are not affiliated with TheOddsKing.com, our products, or our Website. Unless so governed by contractual relations, the trademark holders do not sponsor or endorse our products or our Website and are not in any way affiliated with TheOddsKing.com.