Do you keep your winnings, losses and profits private?

akaRobbo

akaRobbo

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Ive only seriously been playing poker for a few months, but its turned into a real hobby and something im striving to become very good at and something im passionate about.

My parents know I play online for real money, but they know its only micro-stakes and Ive never discussed my winnings or losses with them. Ive played something like 50k hands at 5NL now and im breaking even and know if i continue to work hard on improving I have the potential to be a winning player.

Its annoying though when you tell people you play online poker, family start telling me to be careful and dont get drawn in etc. Like a few days ago when I told my parents im planning my first live session soon, they didnt say it but I could tell they werent exactly all for me doing it. People who dont know much about poker seem to automatically have a negative attitude towards it. When they dont know how hard and how much effort it takes actually be a winning player, and how skillful that person is. Anyone who is a winning player at poker is very talented IMO. But people call it a "mugs game"? You're only a mug if you continue to play and lose money and dont put any effort in to study and get better.

Is it best just to not discuss your winnings/ losses and situation you are in with poker. Like for example, someone asks how much you have made this week playing. A week in the grand scheme of things is nothing to us players and doesnt prove anything about how "good" you are.

I think its best just to keep info to yourself? What do your family and friends think about you playing poker?
 
Jillychemung

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Personally, I have no problems posting my wins/losses to my thread in the BBC forum. And I email my yearly summary to a lot of my family that is interested in my poker hobby.
 
SloPowers

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I don't have anyone that asks so this isn't a problem for me! I do, however, keep detailed bankroll management records so "I" know what I'm doing and where I'm going with my game!
 
hashtag

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Yea, I have noticed a lot of people put a bad connotation on poker; They don't know how the game works and think "the house always wins". In a way this is true, but there's more to it than that. I explained the concept to my mother and she seems to get it, but also understands I'm playing microstakes. If I was playing with larger sums of money it would be different.

Best to keep it brief and be nonchalant in your answers. Make a poker buddy and discuss the game/your winnings with them.
 
newbie in training

newbie in training

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My folks actually encourage me to play and to get better I think it kind of refers back to life where if you slack off you fall behind to a nobody and the first year my dad actually staked me 100 :) :D I lost it all lol but I'm sure I'll pay it back when I withdraw in the future and this year I started with 0 and thx to cc Fr :thumbup: I'm just shy of 120

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk 2
 
R

rugby0

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My success is between myself and the Irs.
 
Arjonius

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I seldom reveal my winnings, but the main reason for this is that most of the people I'm close enough to so I'd be willing to tell them don't play, which means poker doesn't come up / they aren't interested enough to ask more than once in a while.
 
V

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My mom asks me the question everyday how much i won today i tell here i mostly play micro stakes and free rolls so it's not that much but with free rolls no risk involved if you are cashing out on regular basis then you know you are winning player and skilled player at that or more luck then some:bom: :smokin:
 
XXPXXP

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for sure,I would hide it by any chance.
Just ask yourself, are you going to show how much money in your bank account?
if no, then, obv the same answer for your real money poker account and ID
but playmoney, whatever, I don't care.
 
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Cooking

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I usually don't tell to anyone how much I win/lose. I would only tell to my parents if I won a really big tournament, because they think poker is just a waste of time and if I tell them my actual profit, they will be even more against poker.
 
RCtheDabbler

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If people ask me i will tell them, nothing to hide here lol
 
D

DillerDaller

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I tell my closest poker friends and closest family, but that's about it. I would never engage in a conversation with a stranger and tell them i play poker and won/lost xxxxxx amount, it is simply not their business and might give them the wrong impression of me as well as of poker.
 
W

waterboy73

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I have no problem sharing my wins/losses with certain people in my life. I don't just walk around telling everyone and anyone that I met or know, hey "I won/loss X amount today, and yesterday i won/loss x amount." I agree, that a lot of people have a negative misconception about poker (and poker players in general IMO.) I usually keep this info to myself, unless someone is particularly interested in the topic, or if it comes up in conversation with some of my like minded poker friends. As you said, success isn't/shouldn't be measured in terms of a week. The best of players can go seemingly endless downswings or go many MTT's without a good score. Doesn't mean they are bad players. I feel it is most important to be honest with yourself, as that is all that really matters.
 
long_bong

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personally I try to keep the big swings to myself but forum rants are a must :p but IRL hush hush, they don't understand and its a waste of time explaining over and over to people ;) from my past experiences
 
suby_rafael

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I personally never reveal/discuss my winnings/losses with anybody. i like to keep it to myself because i believe i play at my best when nobody knows about such things. Some people are exactly the opposite so i believe it varies among different personalities. Do what best suits yourself !!
 
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Swickster007

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Its easy to tell people how much you won, but when its family (like your parents) They will only hear how much you lose, or could potentially lose. It's a parental thing, just wanting you to be smart.
 
OzExorcist

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For the most part no, I don't discuss them with anyone. But then I don't discuss how much I make in my day job with the majority of people either - I figure all of it falls under the "none of anyone's business" category
 
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punctual

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telling your friends and family you are taking up poker as a hobby is one thing....

...try telling them you are taking up poker for a living and you may get a quite difference response lol
 
M

Mantulis LT

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Trys find job in circus joker thats my favourite
 
John A

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I would completely keep them private, and I've tried to do so for several years. The ONLY reason I share any of my success is because I need to as a poker instructor.

If at all possible, I would suggest keeping this information private.
 
pfb8888

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maybe your parents would rather see you spending time curing cancer...or contributing to society instead of learning how to take money from some drunk schlep and making rake for the casino bosses ?
 
zEric7x

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...If at all possible, I would suggest keeping this information private.

I am curious to hear why you think this. Wouldn’t sharing your success make you feel empowered and better about yourself? I think I would feel this way if I could share success like you have. All I have right now to share is loss.
 
mapt02h

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personally I try to keep the big swings to myself but forum rants are a must :p but IRL hush hush, they don't understand and its a waste of time explaining over and over to people ;) from my past experiences

agree... told a girl at uni the other day that I lost £200+ in one day ($215, $55, $33 tourney bricks so it's not anything unexpected) and that it was a part of the game and she just went "see, you have a gambling addiction" I was like :shot:
 
G

Game_Gran

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I say keep it to yourself. When you advertise winning or losing you are subjecting yourself to the scrutiny of others and that only generates increased pressure on you. I would suggest keeping copious and extremely accurate records especially if you are planning to play live. Consider all "overhead" expenses as well since the bottom line can only be determined in this way. All that said there will be times you win and times you lose miserably. It's all prt of the game.
 
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Pandaaaaa88

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my mom only says that "casino wins everytime", so she dont like that hobby(
 
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