Social Life
You might think that being a poker player is one big party, as it seems to be for the guys who have made it to high stakes. This actually is quite far from the truth, when it comes to the actual low limit grinder making his/her living playing cards. Having to spend hours at your computer grinding will limit yourself in terms of going out and meeting your friends. The best games also usually run during weekends, so if you want to gain the most value of the games, going out to party often won’t be a smart decision most of the time.
Skill level of your opponents
Poker actually used to be easy money for a while, back when the big boom was at its peak in 2003. Today the average skill level of your opponent will be equal to some of the best regular players, back in the days. Players and game have evolved due to a lot of learning material including educational videos and articles being out there. Why is this important? Well, if you don’t work on your game enough and aren’t a natural talent, there’s a risk that you might fall behind and actually become -EV in most poker games where money can be made.
Legislation
You might be a great player making thousands of dollars, but what if the top minds at your country decide to legalize or even ban online poker? This has already happened in USA and several other countries have separated player pools and created a playing environment with very high rake. It’s very hard to earn money playing in these games, even given that the games are soft themselves. Of course, you could always move abroad, but what if you already have a family? Leaving all your friends and relatives can be a real challenge.
Your Future
It’s alright if you have a degree and a wide experience at various jobs, but what if you have just finished high school or are even considering to quit school? Is poker really worth it? Of course, it always depends, but in general the answer is no. Unless you will be able to get a really solid job anytime if your poker adventure goes wrong, it isn’t worth it. Being a professional poker player while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and fulfilling live is the hardest of all challenges.