- By:
-
PhilGalfond
- Dated:
- 26 Apr, 2011
- 15 Comments
Hey Guys,
This is my first blog post since black friday. A lot of people have come to me for answers, and the truth is, I don't know any better than most of you.
I think your decision about what to do next is very dependant on your situation. If you can afford to, I think the best course of action is to just relax for a month or two (maybe coach or do something else productive), and see if anything becomes more clear.
To the people considering leaving the country... I think it's a very viable option, and one I'm considering myself. Make sure you do your research with regards to immigration laws, bank laws, rent, casinos (if you want to play live), etc. One thing that is an important question I've been asking myself is: Do I want to move somewhere and do nothing but work for maybe 6 months, or do I want to move somewhere (that might be more expensive) and have a life and a great experience to look back on. I'm leaning towards the latter, if I do end up moving, but like I said before, the decision depends on your situation. It is still tempting to me to have a 4-6 month work only trip and no life outside of it. It's definitely not a good long term plan, but for a short time period, it's not so bad.
Personally, my plan for now: Head to Vegas early this summer. Play a bunch of live poker all the way through the Series. After that, see how things are looking and make a decision then. I'm trying not to stress too much about it now.
What will we learn in 2 months? I don't really know. Worst case, you could at least hear some stories of how it's going in various countries from other players in the poker community.
One thing that is very important: Do not bank on online poker becoming legal soon.
1) You shouldn't ever be unprepared for the negative outcome. Make sure you keep savings, find new work, whatever it is that you would do if you knew online poker would be impossible to play from the US for 6 years. If you're wrong, and it's legal in 1 year, it's a lot better than assuming it's coming sooner and being unprepared when it doesn't.
2) From what I understand, it probably will take a long time, if it does end up happening (which I think it will). Even if lots of people in the government want online poker to be legal, it's just a slow process.
Hope you guys are doing ok, and planning well. Please post any ideas you've had or questions or anything like that. Maybe I could even make a video on Pokerstatic answering some of them.
Take care.
-Phil
Comments
Marius (1 year ago)
Would advice against moving for a couple of months and exclusively work. Here's my reasons for it:
1: You already have a lot of money, and the need to get more comes more from your own goals than any genuine need.
2: Even though you have decent edge and put in a lot of volume, you can still lose a lot of money just by running bad which will lead you to play worse and feel miserable if that were to happen.
3: Life is too short not to seize this opportunity to do something fun + play online at the same time.
soliptic (1 year ago)
phil come live in australia it's awesome here.
you can stay at my mums house in the spare room and ill let you have the big comfy chair in the tv room if you get me boomswitched on stars
Becks (1 year ago)
Hey.
Now that most of you guys can´t play, how are you going to make videos? I know there are other ways, like leakfinder series or theoretical videos but live play videos are a big percentage of the vids you guys make. Would appreciate it if you could answer this rather sooner than later.
Thanks in advance.
Becks.
capiscc (1 year ago)
I disagree with Marius's statement. Moving abroad to play a game you love and have a skill set in is not only exciting, but it makes one cultured. You'll soon find a balance between poker and venturing your new location since everything is relatively new. I'm thinking somewhere in europe atm because i lived there for awhile and enjoy the overall scene.
I have travelled many places across the world while playing poker and find it more exciting than sitting in the same chair 24/7. People like to hate on successful players for wanting to take their profession to another location which i find very ignorant. No one is saying that this would be a permanent move for us poker players. Instead, it's a temporary retreat to focus on our game and enjoy a new setting. Phil, i highly recommend that you consider this option. If so, maybe i'll see you in a small coffee shop in southern France!
Gentleman (1 year ago)
Dear Phil,
I have just created my account JUST to contact you.
I am also considering emigration. (from Finalnd) Should you wish to contact me for more detailed discussion I have my contact info on my profile (I plan to remove it in few days)
I have done quite a bit of background work - and I am still doing - in selecting the country/ location to move to.
My best practice is to make a list of issues that are important to you / affect the decision. Mine is about 25 things ranging from risk of natural disaster to language barrier.
Once you have your list you can rate your current location and potential other locations to compare them. (I use a spreadsheet)
The rating should give you a rough idea what might be interesting locations and what to discard outright.
Next step would be to pic top locations and visit them for a longer period (2 week min 3 or 4 week about ok). This to give you the feel of the place and what it might feel like to live there.
As to SHOULD you move .. SWOT analysis of your situation. How many anchors do you have in your current location (= why are you living there?).
Few pointers:
1) you can keep your nationality so you can return / move again if things dont work out.
2) You have (?) freedom to move so use it.. live a while in different places (top of the list) before making up your mind.
3) rent first ... if you like it after a year you can buy then.
All the best in your endeavor.
Nexgen (1 year ago)
Hey Phil,
I have read that you hate MTT, (I also do, since I understood that Cashgame is so much better), will you play a lot of WSOP tournaments this summer ? the main event ? and also more EPT ?
I guess the plan B for everyone who lives in the US is to leave, but It'd be better to see how the things goes before leaving. (I guess I'm not saying that to you :D)
In France we have been forbidden in june 2010 the same way United States to play on Stars/FTP
and now the rake are higher than any other sites, playing low limit cashgames became very expensive and even the best players at NL200 have their winning under the rake that they did paid while playing. To be clear, we are paying fees to the site AND the government.
If the same thing happens to United States, will it be still profitable to play with awful rakes ? For HighStakes player I guess not, but under NL1000...
(1 year ago)
I have the same plan as you. Hopefully people were smart with money.
Going to be in Vegas for the entire WSOP at 2+2 high stakes PLO mansion. Looking to move to Cabo San Lucas afterwards with some of my roomies; Mexico is really the only long term option (1 year +).
twentyfivefitty (1 year ago)
4-6 month work trip eh? That's kind of what I did in the States when I broke up with my girlfriend. I had to choose between poker and her. I don't think anyone beats out poker and my ambition.
I have a couple successful businesses here in the States, but splitting my time between here and overseas is definitely an option. I play a lot of higher level live cash games, but to be truly elite I believe you have to play online.
It now seems that you have to leave the United States to be an elite poker player, just as an artist will often leave to study in France. I'm probably going to get a house in the Carribean with some poker buddies, and we'll commute there from Florida.
I don't need the money. As Ansky pointed out in an article in Bluff, "If you Americans have a 1/22 chance of becoming millionaires, is poker the best vehicle to get there?" Probably not, but that's not goal. My businesses and a couple other wise moves are getting me there. For me it's about the game and the competition playa ^^
Good luck to everyone, and like Phil said, even though this prohibition corruption will get sorted out, it's probably going to take quite a while.
talrushi (1 year ago)
Hey Guys.
Ive a buddy in Los Angeles that I just saw him playing on stars 14 tables on NL600.I skyped him and asked what the deal was, why it was possible for him to play as a US citizen within the US. The answer was "proxy server". It works. He has started doing that right after black friday. He is using neteller as cash out option if anybody wonders. Proxy servers are located in isles outside the US like the caribean or malta, they are rentable and actually not very expensive.
I dont know if thats gonna be an option for Phil because sadly I think he became too famous in the comunity to be playing illegally using proxy servers, but for any anonymeous reg its an option that hardly causes any inconveniance.
sickbalance (1 year ago)
the US high stakes poker community, especially Phil, needs to come to Sydney (short trip to Melbourne), Australia for a year or so. We'd be happy to have you,plus great beaches, hot girls (heaps of groupies), casino and good internets
Vinvinnoise (1 year ago)
Montreal #1
(1 year ago)
Hey phil,
i read this blog for some thoughts on the US poker scene now, as I am a Uk resident and was considering investing some of my poker money to attend a US college to do a masters, to give me some new experiences, do something interesting etc whilst still focusing on grinding saving money up online as my primary objective, but Black Friday has changed everything. And whilst I could still grind here the decision to work while the opportunity is still here (you never know what might happen now) or get some good life experiences is one that I too have to make, it really is hard putting life into perspective as a pro poker player sometimes, our life feels so different to everyone else. Anyway im sure what is best is all down to individual circumstances and i will just have to think it through, good luck with your decision.
On a side note with regards to playing live being another option for people i would like to request a video from you related to live play. Whilst you may say that you are not the most experienced live player i am sure that you will have valuable insight into the differences between live and online vs weak and stronger opponents. I know poker is still poker, but in the light of recent events I feel that the time is right for a live poker video perhaps even showcase some of your recent tv cashgame hands from HSP etc would be good to here those thought processes as well as some all round theory.
Who knows maybe there is even a philosophy live vid in there some where.
Thanks for all your work on the site, you are an excellent teacher and good luck in the future.
9dueceoff (12 months ago)
what up
doubt you read these comments but if you do I just wanted to say you seem like a great person and for the poker world or online poker world in times like these we need people like you to be seen and for others to hear what you have to say...and i personally just wanted to thank you for being down to earth and trying to help others reach goals in the poker world just as you have...you inspire people with your play and professionalism...keep 3 betting everyone off the best hands but stop playing that way when ur on j.chans left.lol
janny1985 (11 months ago)
Hey Guys. I am from Serbia, and I hope you have heard of Serbia..
I want to welcome all visitors to
this site, led by Phil Galfond.
Phil, if you intend to go somewhere, come to Serbia.. :::)))))), why not???::))
(11 months ago)
cause it's serbia
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