If you were to ask me what makes a successful gambler, I would say it is someone who understands how to improve the probability of winning in the long-term. They know the ins and outs of the game, the best strategies to use in different situations, how to find value in a bet, and significantly, a good gambler tries to win consistently but knows when to adapt, change and withdraw.

Like many, I wasn’t always the sharpshooter I am today. As a young man, I would bet on everything that seemed winnable. I once lost my entire savings for an annual holiday on a dice roll. My now ex-partner was less than impressed, and that wager cost me more than a small fortune in cash. I wasn’t about to stop taking risks, so my only option was to get smart, and quickly.

Without the benefit of a mentor there have been many ups and downs, but learning to win in gambling is a learnable skill like any other. Over time, I started to gain considerably more than I lost at the casino, the bookmaker and even in the poker rooms on a consistent basis. I tried to master it all, there was always something new to learn, and eventually, it became a full-time profession.