I’m trying to take the jump from a career in the corporate world to professional poker player? Has anybody done it already? Any good paths to follow? I’m placing in local games/tournaments but don’t know the first thing about going national/international. Help!

I’ve made quite a bit of money last year playing cash game poker on the side and I’m thinking of quitting my day job and going full time. How does a professional poker player file taxes and their annual salary? How does the IRS verify the income reported is true? Must you report every cent of your winnings minus the losses?

I was talking with a new co-worker and she told me that her boyfriend is a professional poker player. I’ve never heard that before. Everyone that I know who plays poker does it once a week or once a month for fun. I asked her if he plays every day and she said yes. He’s 21 years old. I asked if he pays taxes on his winnings like employees do on wages and she said, "well, waitresses don’t claim all their tips."

Can anyone give me an overview of a career as a professional poker player since I’m clueless? How do they find work? How much do they make? What are the possitives & negatives of such a career? Is it something someone can do their whole life?