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Pro players on the dole

2

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  • ACEGOONERACEGOONER Member Posts: 1,435
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    HI all,   Interesting question.I don't have any qualms about people claiming unemployment benefit but isn't there a rule about 'actively searching' for employment. Make the effort but carry on playing if that's the law. Thankfully i was forcibly retired from teaching for ill-health after a family tragedy took effect on an existing condition i had, unfortunately. However, snugly in my early 50's, i don't miss the 'grind' of teaching though at times, i did love the the job and the friends i made through it.  Life goes on and you never get out of it alive so just get some balance and enjoy it by writing out a' bucket list' and trying to 'tick' them off. I abide by the law and always have. Do what's legally correct and what you also feel is correct. Simple.... I still have self-respect and have lots of hobbies and goals.........balance is the key. The life of a poker pro would be abhorrent to me. Yes, that occasional euphoric moment is wonderful but the downswings must affect you mentally. I've had depression brought on by tragedy and i wouldn't wish it on anyone. to trying to earn a living in that state would be nigh on impossible and probably brig on a downward spiral. The pressure must be crushing at times.  Don't get me wrong...i'm loving poker but .....being a pro......never, never, never....i enjoy it too much!! All the best and GL at the tables....
    Posted by profman15

    Retiring in your 50s with a final salary pension, as a pensions adviser that is utopia for me but will never happen!

  • PipunchPipunch Member Posts: 516
    edited May 2012
    I have my own very personal views on tax and whatnot (did you know the government actually use taxes to pay off banks?) so i'm of the opinion to get what you can out of them.

    I would say though that if i could make enough to live on with poker or anything else i wouldn't be seen dead within 5 miles of a jobcentre - not because of the effort involved but just because it's embarrassing and demoralising going there.

    If it's survive or take from the government though i'd take the money all day.
  • DazlerDazler Member Posts: 3,970
    edited May 2012
    I was chatting to a forum reg a few months ago and a player jumped in telling me how disgusting i was that i play poker and im out of work, claiming benefits and so forth, even though i wasnt claiming anything cos my partner earns to much, but the benifits system is an utter joke anyways and gl to anyone that plays and makes a bit of money on top of benefits because you get didly squat to live on just by that alone. If you are a pro who makes a rediculous amount then i do think that is wrong.
  • sikassikas Member Posts: 857
    edited May 2012
    my JSA pays for my Primo entry every week
  • ACEGOONERACEGOONER Member Posts: 1,435
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    I have my own very personal views on tax and whatnot (did you know the government actually use taxes to pay off banks?) so i'm of the opinion to get what you can out of them. I would say though that if i could make enough to live on with poker or anything else i wouldn't be seen dead within 5 miles of a jobcentre - not because of the effort involved but just because it's embarrassing and demoralising going there. If it's survive or take from the government though i'd take the money all day.
    Posted by Pipunch
    Tbh I didnt get any grief off the Jobcentre plus people when I was looking for work. I didnt really find the experience demoralising at all, I think there is a stigma attached to signing on but it takes 10 mins to bink £60 odd quid. 

    I had no shame in claiming benefits because down the years I have paid thousands in income tax and National Insurance. And since I have gone back to work I am sure I have repaid in tax what the state gave me in benefits anyway.
  • sikassikas Member Posts: 857
    edited May 2012
    my above post was a joke btw incase it offends ppl
  • CHILLIECHILLIE Member Posts: 432
    edited May 2012
    interesting post if u are pro i doubt u would bother claiming however if u play as a hobby and claim jsa how can u say your lokking for work when u are on poker site for hours every day grinding thats wrong false reprentation of saying your looking for work when clearly your not
  • scotty77scotty77 Member Posts: 4,970
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole : That's pretty disgusting really, and they should be reported,  espeically if they are not actively seeking any other job .
    Posted by 1267
    yeah I suppose but then again I only see them at the live environment a few times a year maybe. they are def winning players but they may not win enough to sustain their living expenses.  also they may have some demons outside of poker which means that they also can't get off the safety net of benefits.

    however when you play a lot of live poker you do come across a LOT of 'characters' who all have their own backstory....a significant amount of the time those stories contain a lot of illegal/shady dealings...
  • rancidrancid Member Posts: 5,947
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole : yeah I suppose but then again I only see them at the live environment a few times a year maybe. they are def winning players but they may not win enough to sustain their living expenses.  also they may have some demons outside of poker which means that they also can't get off the safety net of benefits. however when you play a lot of live poker you do come across a LOT of 'characters' who all have their own backstory....a significant amount of the time those stories contain a lot of illegal/shady dealings...
    Posted by scotty77
    lolz tell the polive then - GRASS! GET HIM!


  • weedgiweedgi Member Posts: 103
    edited May 2012
    "however when you play a lot of live poker you do come across a LOT of 'characters' who all have their own backstory....a significant amount of the time those stories contain a lot of illegal/shady dealings "

    this is so true 
  • scotty77scotty77 Member Posts: 4,970
    edited May 2012
    haha no they are good value in the games usually!


  • weedgiweedgi Member Posts: 103
    edited May 2012
    great value   ,make the games what they are
  • DazlerDazler Member Posts: 3,970
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    my above post was a joke btw incase it offends ppl
    Posted by sikas
    i got it sikas dont worry think your safe lol and it did make me chuckle maybe i could get a council house and play an underground poker game and gamble the house :)
  • WHOAMI196WHOAMI196 Member Posts: 1,170
    edited May 2012

    Man, being on the dole was an awful experience for me, (i was on the dole for 2 months btw after telling my boss to gfhs, this was few years back), so because i quit i was not allowed jsa for like the first ~4 weeks or something, at the time i had 2k in pokerstars to which i had to withdraw to pay for living expenses but mainly because my hard-drive on my expensive lappy fkd up, and would cost me £300 to fix as it ran past the guarantee as much as 10 days, i was gutted, awful few months but i got a job in the end, not through Job Center though(they are cr ap frm my experience) but knocking on doors myself, and where i am from in N wales its pretty tough going to get a job.

  • ACEGOONERACEGOONER Member Posts: 1,435
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    interesting post if u are pro i doubt u would bother claiming however if u play as a hobby and claim jsa how can u say your lokking for work when u are on poker site for hours every day grinding thats wrong false reprentation of saying your looking for work when clearly your not
    Posted by CHILLIE
    Easy go onto reed.co.uk, upload your cv and let the jobs/recruitment consultants come to you. Takes 5 mins a week. 

    The Jobcentre require you to have proof of 6-8 job applications every other week, let the internet take the strain. Playing poker full time is not misrepresenting that you are looking for work. The only time you should be available is for interviews etc. 

    Whats that old adage "work smarter not harder". 


  • TINTINTINTIN Member Posts: 1,612
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    interesting post if u are pro i doubt u would bother claiming however if u play as a hobby and claim jsa how can u say your lokking for work when u are on poker site for hours every day grinding thats wrong false reprentation of saying your looking for work when clearly your not
    Posted by CHILLIE
    pretty idiotic statement from you.

    im out of work, i normally play micro stakes on here when im out of work for many hours a day, i actively seek employment every day so who am i misleading?

    active jobseekers get discriminated against by the job centre as it is. junkies and drunks get away with everything and also receive more money and they dont want to work. they all have even started to get dogs because they get more money still, yet if i havent applied for x amount of jobs in a certain time period im the 1 who loses any benefit payment. ive got to prove what efforts i make yet these junkies walk about getting everything for nothing.

    i play poker to fill my day up, i have all the job sites bookmarked on my computer or phone, i have cv ready to send to any job that appears that i fit the profile for, i check these sites regularly thruout the day. i buy papers when they run the jobs column, im registered for many employment agencies and im on the phone chasing up any leads i hear about. i want a job as do many others

    when i play i usually win enough to top up the meagre amount i receive from the jsa. is it a scam? no. is it hampering my efforts to find employment? no am i misleading anyone when ive got to prove my efforts? no
  • ACEGOONERACEGOONER Member Posts: 1,435
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole : pretty idiotic statement from you. im out of work, i normally play micro stakes on here when im out of work for many hours a day, i actively seek employment every day so who am i misleading? active jobseekers get discriminated against by the job centre as it is. junkies and drunks get away with everything and also receive more money and they dont want to work. they all have even started to get dogs because they get more money still, yet if i havent applied for x amount of jobs in a certain time period im the 1 who loses any benefit payment. ive got to prove what efforts i make yet these junkies walk about getting everything for nothing. i play poker to fill my day up, i have all the job sites bookmarked on my computer or phone, i have cv ready to send to any job that appears that i fit the profile for, i check these sites regularly thruout the day. i buy papers when they run the jobs column, im registered for many employment agencies and im on the phone chasing up any leads i hear about. i want a job as do many others when i play i usually win enough to top up the meagre amount i receive from the jsa. is it a scam? no. is it hampering my efforts to find employment? no am i misleading anyone when ive got to prove my efforts? no
    Posted by TINTIN
    I think you're trying to say what I said but better, as long as you satisfy the criteria to receive benefits who gives a hoot what you do outside the jobcentre. 

    PS Im not sure what sector you work in but I found the reed site invaluable. 
  • TINTINTINTIN Member Posts: 1,612
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole : I think you're trying to say what I said but better, as long as you satisfy the criteria to receive benefits who gives a hoot what you do outside the jobcentre.  PS Im not sure what sector you work in but I found the reed site invaluable. 
    Posted by ACEGOONER
    yeah i use it, i work in the manufacturing sector but its not very stable more so in the area that i live. i was made redundant 2 year ago from a job that should have been for life if the company that i worked for didnt decide to jump on the financial uncertainty bandwagon, they only made £2.5b that year and coz profits were only slightly up they decided the site i worked at was to close. for me its back to getting into a new job and putting in the hours on a temp contract again in the hope that a few year down the line it becomes a permanent contract
  • rancidrancid Member Posts: 5,947
    edited May 2012
    Next you'll be saying you should pay tax on your poker profits because all poker players (winning) are just parasites !

    cash in hand jobs have been around since day one and this will continue as it's part of society !

    deal with it










  • MRBURNS4MRBURNS4 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole:
    In Response to Re: Pro players on the dole : This has been discussed many a time, and pro poker players do essentially pay taxes. They pay a very large amount of rake to Sky (or whatever site) and Sky have to pay tax on that, so Sky have worked that in when they calculate what rake to charge so the players are essentially paying tax, they just pay it to Sky and Sky pay it for them.
    Posted by Lambert180
    I agree lambert and what Trev said they will find it difficult to Tax any poker winnings as people will just go self cert and claim so much back including travel expenses etc and I think the goverment have enough problems to deal with.

    You take me for example I own a business so I would then say the poker is a another brach of the business and then could use it agaisnt tax etc this would open up a can of worms for the tax man because every time somebody buys a scratch card would they then claim they are a pro gambler and write the scratch card off agaisnt tax as well as their poker loses(just a micro example)

    I also agree def not to be ashamed about being on the dole I was there once and there is a huge difference between someone who cant find work and someone who dosent want to find work.
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