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As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, careful reasoning, focus and applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are TabletopGame/{{poker}}, TabletopGame/{{blackjack}}, and other CardGames; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiards. In modern times, some will even try their chances at an [[https://time2play.com/casinos/bonuses/ online casino bonus]]. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting (hiding emotional responses).

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As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, careful reasoning, focus and applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are TabletopGame/{{poker}}, TabletopGame/{{blackjack}}, and other CardGames; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiards. In modern times, some will even try their chances at an [[https://time2play.com/casinos/bonuses/ online casino bonus]].casinos. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting (hiding emotional responses).
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** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E70AGameOfPool A Game of Pool]]" involves a small-time "pool shark" challenging a legendary (and dead) player, with the stakes being life or death for the challenger.
** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E72TheGrave The Grave]]", Steinhart is a poker player who bets the protagonist he won't go to his enemy's grave at night.
** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E96TheTradeIns The Trade-Ins]]", in the hope of winning enough money to afford a second procedure so that he and his wife Marie can both be young again, John Holt takes part in a high stakes poker game run by the professional gambler Mr. Farraday. He loses most of his money over several hands. Farraday is moved when he learns why John is playing and by the fact that he is desperate to have the procedure done due to the terrible pain that he is experiencing. John has three kings and hopes to win back the $5,000 that he lost. Although Farraday has three aces, he takes sympathy and allows John to win.

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** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E70AGameOfPool "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1959S3E5AGameOfPool A Game of Pool]]" involves a small-time "pool shark" challenging a legendary (and dead) player, with the stakes being life or death for the challenger.
** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E72TheGrave "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1959S3E7TheGrave The Grave]]", Steinhart is a poker player who bets the protagonist he won't go to his enemy's grave at night.
** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E96TheTradeIns "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1959S3E31TheTradeIns The Trade-Ins]]", in the hope of winning enough money to afford a second procedure so that he and his wife Marie can both be young again, John Holt takes part in a high stakes high-stakes poker game run by the professional gambler Mr. Farraday. He loses most of his money over several hands. Farraday is moved when he learns why John is playing and by the fact that he is desperate to have the procedure done due to the terrible pain that he is experiencing. John has three kings and hopes to win back the $5,000 that he lost. Although Farraday has three aces, he takes sympathy and allows John to win.
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** PlayedForLaughs when Nicky himself figures out a way where he can’t lose when he gambles. His way? [[spoiler: Collecting when he wins and telling the bookies to go fuck themselves when he loses.]]
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* The protagonist of ''Videogame/CardShark'' is an illiterate mute who gets recruited to be an aide to the Compte de Saint Germaine as he helps him cheat at cards. Through his tutelage, he eventually becomes a proficient enough gambler in his own right to cheat his way into high society.
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Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like to do AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed. If the professional gambler is crooked and is caught FixingTheGame they may meet up with a HangingJudge and their career will be [[{{Pun}} suspended]]...from the county gallows.

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Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like to do AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve have them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed. If the professional gambler is crooked and is caught FixingTheGame they may meet up with a HangingJudge and their career will be [[{{Pun}} suspended]]...from the county gallows.
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Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like to do AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed. If the professional gambler is crooked and is caught FixingTheGame they may meet up with a HangingJudge and their career will be [[{{Pun}}suspended]]...from the county gallows.

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Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like to do AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed. If the professional gambler is crooked and is caught FixingTheGame they may meet up with a HangingJudge and their career will be [[{{Pun}}suspended]]...[[{{Pun}} suspended]]...from the county gallows.
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Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like to do AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed.

to:

Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like to do AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed.
jailed. If the professional gambler is crooked and is caught FixingTheGame they may meet up with a HangingJudge and their career will be [[{{Pun}}suspended]]...from the county gallows.
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Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like todo AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed.

to:

Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like todo to do AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed.
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Someone whose primary source of income is gambling. Risking money on games of chance and skill is a pastime that has been around since the dawn of civilization. The Professional Gambler is someone who emphasizes the "skill" part of the equation. Unlike the foolish country bumpkin who [[AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted eagerly rushes to the gambling hall after payday and promptly loses everything]], they professional gambler knows the odds, can read the other players' intentions and resources, and know the best strategies. They may not always win, but they win often enough and avoid losses enough to make a living and stay in "business."

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Someone whose primary source of income is gambling. Risking money on games of chance and skill is a pastime that has been around since the dawn of civilization. The Professional Gambler is someone who emphasizes the "skill" part of the equation. Unlike the foolish country bumpkin who [[AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted eagerly rushes to the gambling hall after payday and promptly loses everything]], they the professional gambler knows plays it cool. They know the odds, can read the other players' intentions and resources, and know the best strategies. They may not always win, but they win often enough and avoid losses enough to make a living and stay in "business."




A frequent "bit" in Westerns is for someone on the losing end of a TabletopGame/{{poker}} game to lose their temper and accuse the pro of cheating--this can start a GamblingBrawl.

Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, and will often come to a bad end in fiction.

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\nA frequent "bit" trope in Westerns is for someone on the losing end of a TabletopGame/{{poker}} game to lose their temper and accuse the pro of cheating--this can start a GamblingBrawl.

GamblingBrawl, and the gambling pro may have to pull his Derringer out.

Despite his sometimes glamorous lifestyle, the professional gambler is usually a disreputable figure, because even if they aren't doing TheCon they do have to choose less-skilled partners and take their money. As such, authors like todo AnAesop with the professional gambler and hwve them get payback. The professional gambler will often come to a bad end in fiction.
fiction, such as being exiled from town or jailed.

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Someone whose primary source of income is gambling.

Risking money on games of chance and skill is a pastime that has been around since the dawn of civilization. The Professional Gambler is someone who emphasizes the "skill" part of the equation. They know the odds, can read the other players' intentions and resources, and know the best strategies. They may not always win, but win often enough to feed themselves and stay in "business."

As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, and possibly applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are TabletopGame/{{poker}}, TabletopGame/{{blackjack}}, and other CardGames; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiard. In modern times, some will even try their chances at an [[https://time2play.com/casinos/bonuses/ online casino bonus]]. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting.

A professional gambler may not actually cheat, but certainly knows how to, and how to spot another cheat. Some games may come down to who can cheat the best. Expect to see TheMagicPokerEquation come up in stories involving this character--though often for their less-professional targets.

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Someone whose primary source of income is gambling.

gambling. Risking money on games of chance and skill is a pastime that has been around since the dawn of civilization. The Professional Gambler is someone who emphasizes the "skill" part of the equation. They know Unlike the foolish country bumpkin who [[AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted eagerly rushes to the gambling hall after payday and promptly loses everything]], they professional gambler knows the odds, can read the other players' intentions and resources, and know the best strategies. They may not always win, but they win often enough and avoid losses enough to feed themselves make a living and stay in "business."

As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, careful reasoning, focus and possibly applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are TabletopGame/{{poker}}, TabletopGame/{{blackjack}}, and other CardGames; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiard.billiards. In modern times, some will even try their chances at an [[https://time2play.com/casinos/bonuses/ online casino bonus]]. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting.

acting (hiding emotional responses).

A professional gambler may not actually cheat, cheat or do TheCon, but certainly knows how to, and how to spot another cheat. Some games may come down to who can cheat the best. Expect to see TheMagicPokerEquation come up in stories involving this character--though often for their less-professional targets.

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[[folder:Live Action TV]]

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[[folder:Live Action [[folder:Live-Action TV]]



** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E70AGameOfPool A Game of Pool]]" involves a small-time "pool shark" challenging a legendary (and dead) player, with the stakes being life or death for the challenger.



** Similarly, "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E70AGameOfPool A Game of Pool]]" involves a small-time "pool shark" challenging a legendary (and dead) player, with the stakes being life or death for the challenger.
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** The episode "The Grave". Steinhart, a poker player who bets the protagonist he won't go to his enemy's grave at night.
** Similarly, "A Game Of Pool" involved a small-time "pool shark" challenging a legendary (and dead) player, with the stakes being life or death for the challenger.

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** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E72TheGrave The episode "The Grave". Steinhart, Grave]]", Steinhart is a poker player who bets the protagonist he won't go to his enemy's grave at night.
** Similarly, "A "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E70AGameOfPool A Game Of Pool" involved of Pool]]" involves a small-time "pool shark" challenging a legendary (and dead) player, with the stakes being life or death for the challenger.
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As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, and possibly applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are poker, blackjack, and other card games; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiard. In modern times, some will even try their chances at an [[https://time2play.com/casinos/bonuses/ online casino bonus]]. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting.

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As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, and possibly applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are poker, blackjack, TabletopGame/{{poker}}, TabletopGame/{{blackjack}}, and other card games; CardGames; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiard. In modern times, some will even try their chances at an [[https://time2play.com/casinos/bonuses/ online casino bonus]]. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting.
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* Firo Prochainezo of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', as part of his duties as a [[TheMafia camorrista]], manages the Family's casinos (which often involves breaking people's fingers for cheating). As a result, he's picked up enough tricks both honest and [[CardSharp dishonest]] over the last seventy-two years of [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld perpetual teenagerdom]] to rain hell on casinos. As a SelfImposedChallenge he once decided to see what he could do with $100 solely through smart betting. He called it quits after two hours because he managed to multiply his original sum by over a thousand and was worried continuing would raise suspicion even with his occasional deliberate losses.

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* Firo Prochainezo of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'', as part of his duties as a [[TheMafia camorrista]], manages the Family's casinos (which often involves breaking people's fingers for cheating). As a result, he's picked up enough tricks both honest and [[CardSharp dishonest]] over the last seventy-two years of [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld perpetual teenagerdom]] to rain hell on casinos. As a SelfImposedChallenge he once decided to see what he could do with $100 solely through smart betting. He called it quits after two hours because he managed to multiply his original sum by over a thousand and was worried continuing would raise suspicion even with his occasional deliberate losses.
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Compare TheGambler, who uses a gambling motif in his or her fighting style. See also the CardSharp, who uses cheating and sleight of hand to win, and HustlingTheMark, feigning poor playing skills to draw others to play against him. And if you're trying this but ''losing'' most of your money, then you might be TheGamblingAddict.

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Compare TheGambler, who uses a gambling motif in his or her fighting style. See also the CardSharp, who uses cheating and sleight of hand to win, and HustlingTheMark, feigning poor playing skills to draw others to play against him. And if you're trying this but ''losing'' most of your money, then you might be TheGamblingAddict. Skillful players can also demonstrate that CunningPeoplePlayPoker.

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[[folder:Film]][[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/FiveCardStud'', Van Morgan is a professional gambler who runs a little card game in town but one night things get out of hand. A stranger amateurishly tries to cheat and, though Morgan tries to stop it, his fellow players string him up. Morgan leaves town but returns when he hears that the other players are being killed off one by one.
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* Big Gamester from the ''VideoGame/{{Richman}}'' series is a gambler who wins every bet by manipulating his opponents, making them panic and lose as a result. He'll try to make the opponent lose in all costs! However, this is subverted in ''7'''s ending, where he faces the God of Gamblers and loses...
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* ''Film/AppleDumplingGang'': Donovan is a sophisticated, traveling gambler who is unhappy at being forced to stay in town to take care of several kids. Interestingly, despite Donovan's skill at cards, the local bank president is an even better card player and beats Donovan on multiple occasions. The two develop a fairly FriendlyRivalry.

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* ''Film/AppleDumplingGang'': ''Film/TheAppleDumplingGang'': Donovan is a sophisticated, traveling gambler who is unhappy at being forced to stay in town to take care of several kids. Interestingly, despite Donovan's skill at cards, the local bank president is an even better card player and beats Donovan on multiple occasions. The two develop a fairly FriendlyRivalry.

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* In the first "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler" made-for-TV movie, Brady Hawks (Rogers) plays this pretty straight: he's a sharp dresser and he carries a [[LittleUselessGun hidden Derringer handgun]] for emergencies. He doesn't wear much visible jewelry, but he does have an expensive-looking cane and quite a lot of cash. He's very good at spotting cheats, and smacking them down for it too. He plays only poker, and he's very good at it. Not much changes in the four sequels, save that Hawks starts carrying a typical-for-the-period [[RevolversAreJustBetter .45 single-action revolver]] in addition to the Derringer.



* Professional gamblers appear in many of the novels of Creator/JTEdson. Frank Derringer is one who is a recurring character.



* Creator/BretHarte created many Western tropes, and had a defining example of this one in the character John Oakhurst.



* Creator/BretHarte created many Western tropes, and had a defining example of this one in the character John Oakhurst.



* Professional gamblers appear in many of the novels of Creator/JTEdson. Frank Derringer is one who is a recurring character.



* The TV show ''Series/{{Maverick}}'' had a whole family of them. Bret, Bart, Beau and Brent. The little seen sequel ''YoungMaverick'' had Ben Maverick. Oh, and naturally TheMovie ''Film/{{Maverick}}'' had a passel of professional gamblers.
** Beau "Pappy" Maverick (played by the same actor as Bret and appeared on the same screen as him, a neat trick back then) and Bent Maverick, Pappy Maverick's brother (played by Bart's actor) appeared as well. Of course, those two only appeared in one episode.

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* ''Series/DeadMansGun'': In "The Gambler", luck finally smiles on a down-and-out gambler when he becomes the gun's latest owner, and has a winning streak. The only catches are that his luck has a time limit...and is only activated when he uses the gun to kill.
* Ben from ''Series/FrontierCircus'' was a professional gambler at some time in his past. In "Quick Shuffle", he runs into another professional gambler he knew from the old days who uses a doctored IOU to try and claim half of the circus.
* Kit O’Brady in ''{{Series/Highlander}}'' was one who had an apparent allergy to other immortals. He’d always sneeze when sensing them. He owned a casino in the flashback until Amanda won it from him, and was trying to buy a racehorse in the present day part.
* Ezra Standish of ''Series/TheMagnificentSeven'' TV series is a Professional Gambler drafted into law enforcement; he doesn't give up his cards, but he does sometimes have to put them down to go arrest someone.
* The TV show ''Series/{{Maverick}}'' had a whole family of them. Bret, Bart, Beau and Brent. The little seen sequel ''YoungMaverick'' ''Series/YoungMaverick'' had Beau's son Ben Maverick. Oh, and naturally TheMovie ''Film/{{Maverick}}'' had a passel of professional gamblers.
** Beau "Pappy" Maverick (played by the same actor as Bret and appeared on the same screen as him, a neat trick back then) and Bent Bentley Maverick, Pappy Maverick's brother (played by Bart's actor) appeared as well. Of course, those two only appeared in one episode.



* When forced to it, ''Series/MrLucky'' can make his living this way, though he generally prefers to ''run'' casinos rather than gamble in them.
* The short-lived ESPN scripted series ''Series/{{Tilt}}'' featured a new meat professional gambler (played by Creator/EddieCibrian) learning the ropes from a hardened Vegas pro (played by Series/MichaelMadsen).



* Ezra Standish of ''Series/TheMagnificentSeven'' TV series is a Professional Gambler drafted into law enforcement; he doesn't give up his cards, but he does sometimes have to put them down to go arrest someone.
* The short-lived ESPN scripted series ''Tilt'' featured a new meat professional gambler (played by EddieCibrian) learning the ropes from a hardened Vegas pro (played by Series/MichaelMadsen).
* When forced to it, Series/MrLucky can make his living this way, though he generally prefers to ''run'' casinos rather than gamble in them.



* Ben from ''Series/FrontierCircus'' was a professional gambler at some time in his past. In "Quick Shuffle", he runs into another professional gambler he knew from the old days who uses a doctored IOU to try and claim half of the circus.
* ''Series/DeadMansGun'': In "The Gambler", luck finally smiles on a down-and-out gambler when he becomes the gun's latest owner, and has a winning streak. The only catches are that his luck has a time limit...and is only activated when he uses the gun to kill.
* Kit O’Brady in ''{{Series/Highlander}}'' was one who had an apparent allergy to other immortals. He’d always sneeze when sensing them. He owned a casino in the flashback until Amanda won it from him, and was trying to buy a racehorse in the present day part.
* In the first "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler" made-for-TV movie, Brady Hawks (Rogers) plays this pretty straight: he's a sharp dresser and he carries a [[LittleUselessGun hidden Derringer handgun]] for emergencies. He doesn't wear much visible jewelry, but he does have an expensive-looking cane and quite a lot of cash. He's very good at spotting cheats, and smacking them down for it too. He plays only poker, and he's very good at it. Not much changes in the four sequels, save that Hawks starts carrying a typical-for-the-period [[RevolversAreJustBetter .45 single-action revolver]] in addition to the Derringer.



* The Clockwork Dolls' "The Ballad of Black Jack Jezabel" is about a professional gambler who hunts down the one man to ever defeat her.



* The Clockwork Dolls' "The Ballad of Black Jack Jezabel" is about a professional gambler who hunts down the one man to ever defeat her.



* ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls'' is focused on the lives of a few professional gamblers (the "guys") and two of their girlfriends (the "dolls"). Based on several Creator/DamonRunyon stories.



* ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls'' is focused on the lives of a few professional gamblers (the "guys") and two of their girlfriends (the "dolls"). Based on several Creator/DamonRunyon stories.



* Ace Visconti of ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'' made a career out of gambling and pulled himself out of poverty this way, though he did rack up some major debt before the Entity abducted him. The official role given to him by the game is "lucky gambler", and naturally, his unique perks are based around traits that would benefit someone in his profession, such as high luck and increased perceptiveness.
* It's unclear whether Setzer of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' actually earns a living this way before joining the party, but he certainly fits the archetype. After joining up, he earns a living by beating up [[MoneySpider Money Spiders]] like everyone else.



* It's unclear whether Setzer of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' actually earns a living this way before joining the party, but he certainly fits the archetype. After joining up, he earns a living by beating up [[MoneySpider Money Spiders]] like everyone else.
* Ace Visconti of ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'' made a career out of gambling and pulled himself out of poverty this way, though he did rack up some major debt before the Entity abducted him. The official role given to him by the game is "lucky gambler", and naturally, his unique perks are based around traits that would benefit someone in his profession, such as high luck and increased perceptiveness.

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* Suguroku Mutou ("Solomon" in the dub) of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' was a professional gambler in his youth, and apparently very successful until he retired. Mai Kujaku ("Valentine") is also a pro (she works cruise ships), but no match for the gifted amateurs of the story.
** In a filler episode of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', one of these who went to school with Alexis when they were kids shows up to settle the score with her. However, most of his success (at least as a kid) was due to the fact that he had enough money to keep gambling until he finally won. Alexis got sick of it and won everything back through Duel Monsters, but he was a sore loser and stole the scarf she wagered anyway, which leads to their present day game. He uses a deck based on coin tosses and has Alexis on the ropes, owing to the fact that he had a card which allowed him to re-toss bad coin flips. When Alexis destroys the card, he botches the coin flip that would have protected him from the game winning attack.
* Manga/{{Akagi}} sure makes a shocking amount of money from gambling, managing to bankrupt one {{Yakuza}} boss after another. He isn't good at spending, however.

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* Suguroku Mutou ("Solomon" in the dub) of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' was a professional gambler in his youth, and apparently very successful until he retired. Mai Kujaku ("Valentine") is also a pro (she works cruise ships), but no match for the gifted amateurs of the story.
** In a filler episode of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', one of these who went to school with Alexis when they were kids shows up to settle the score with her. However, most of his success (at least as a kid) was due to the fact that he had enough money to keep gambling until he finally won. Alexis got sick of it and won everything back through Duel Monsters, but he was a sore loser and stole the scarf she wagered anyway, which leads to their present day game. He uses a deck based on coin tosses and has Alexis on the ropes, owing to the fact that he had a card which allowed him to re-toss bad coin flips. When Alexis destroys the card, he botches the coin flip that would have protected him from the game winning attack.
* Manga/{{Akagi}}
''Manga/{{Akagi}}'' sure makes a shocking amount of money from gambling, managing to bankrupt one {{Yakuza}} boss after another. He isn't good at spending, however.however.
* Firo Prochainezo of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', as part of his duties as a [[TheMafia camorrista]], manages the Family's casinos (which often involves breaking people's fingers for cheating). As a result, he's picked up enough tricks both honest and [[CardSharp dishonest]] over the last seventy-two years of [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld perpetual teenagerdom]] to rain hell on casinos. As a SelfImposedChallenge he once decided to see what he could do with $100 solely through smart betting. He called it quits after two hours because he managed to multiply his original sum by over a thousand and was worried continuing would raise suspicion even with his occasional deliberate losses.
* Mitchal, a minor character from ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'' is implied to be this, alongside being a bodyguard (and friend) to [[SmugSnake Clair]]. Mitchal always carries a pair of pink dice he believes are "lucky." [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake They become Clair's after Mitchal blows himself up to protect him.]]]]



* Hiroshi Nikaidou in ''Manga/PokerKing'' aka ''Million Dollar Kid'', is a professional gambler decided to play against other professional gamblers around the world.
* The Gambling King from ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', who is actually a terrible gambler.



* Hiroshi Nikaidou in ''PokerKing'' aka ''MillionDollarKid'', is a professional gambler decided to play against other professional gamblers around the world.
* The Gambling King from ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', who is actually a terrible gambler.
* Firo Prochainezo of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', as part of his duties as a [[TheMafia camorrista]], manages the Family's casinos (which often involves breaking people's fingers for cheating). As a result, he's picked up enough tricks both honest and [[CardSharp dishonest]] over the last seventy-two years of [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld perpetual teenagerdom]] to rain hell on casinos. As a SelfImposedChallenge he once decided to see what he could do with $100 solely through smart betting. He called it quits after two hours because he managed to multiply his original sum by over a thousand and was worried continuing would raise suspicion even with his occasional deliberate losses.
* Mitchal, a minor character from ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'' is implied to be this, alongside being a bodyguard (and friend) to [[SmugSnake Clair]]. Mitchal always carries a pair of pink dice he believes are "lucky." [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake They become Clair's after Mitchal blows himself up to protect him.]]]]

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* Hiroshi Nikaidou Suguroku Mutou ("Solomon" in ''PokerKing'' aka ''MillionDollarKid'', is the dub) of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' was a professional gambler decided to play against other professional gamblers around in his youth, and apparently very successful until he retired. Mai Kujaku ("Valentine") is also a pro (she works cruise ships), but no match for the world.
* The Gambling King from ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'',
gifted amateurs of the story.
** In a filler episode of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', one of these
who is actually a terrible gambler.
* Firo Prochainezo of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', as part
went to school with Alexis when they were kids shows up to settle the score with her. However, most of his duties success (at least as a [[TheMafia camorrista]], manages kid) was due to the Family's casinos (which often involves breaking people's fingers for cheating). As a result, he's picked up fact that he had enough tricks both honest money to keep gambling until he finally won. Alexis got sick of it and [[CardSharp dishonest]] over the last seventy-two years of [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld perpetual teenagerdom]] to rain hell on casinos. As a SelfImposedChallenge he once decided to see what he could do with $100 solely won everything back through smart betting. He called it quits after two hours because Duel Monsters, but he managed to multiply his original sum by over was a thousand sore loser and was worried continuing stole the scarf she wagered anyway, which leads to their present day game. He uses a deck based on coin tosses and has Alexis on the ropes, owing to the fact that he had a card which allowed him to re-toss bad coin flips. When Alexis destroys the card, he botches the coin flip that would raise suspicion even with his occasional deliberate losses.
* Mitchal, a minor character
have protected him from ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'' is implied to be this, alongside being a bodyguard (and friend) to [[SmugSnake Clair]]. Mitchal always carries a pair of pink dice he believes are "lucky." [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake They become Clair's after Mitchal blows himself up to protect him.]]]] the game winning attack.



* ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'': In one of ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'''s backup strips, the [[EldritchAbomination Celestial Toymaker]] once played poker with a riverboat gambler. The gambler endured defeat after defeat, until he resorted to putting holes in his opponent's cards so as to declare the game forfeit. Imagine his surprise when he found [[RealityWarper holes in ''his'' cards as well!]]



* ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'': In one of ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'''s backup strips, the [[EldritchAbomination Celestial Toymaker]] once played poker with a riverboat gambler. The gambler endured defeat after defeat, until he resorted to putting holes in his opponent's cards so as to declare the game forfeit. Imagine his surprise when he found [[RealityWarper holes in ''his'' cards as well!]]



* "Doc" Holliday from ''Film/{{Tombstone}}'', though his first scene has him sticking up the game.
* ''Film/{{Rounders}}'' is set in the world of professional poker.
* ''Film/{{Silverado}}'' has [[SmugSnake Slick]], who introduces himself as "a gambler looking to run [[BlatantLies an honest game]]." His [[spoiler: FaceHeelTurn]] comes as no surprise.
* Sam "Ace" Rothstein from ''Film/{{Casino}}''. He is professional to the point of analysing the types of wood different baseball bats are made of, or checking the windspeed during a game in order to analyse every variable of his gambling, so that, overall, he makes much more money than he loses. His associate Nicky, however, feels that he's missing the point of gambling by never having any fun with it.



* Father Time from ''Film/{{Posse}}''.

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* Father Time In ''Film/CanyonPassage'', Lestrade is a professional gambler who makes his living skinning the miners in Jacksonville. He holds George's [=IOUs=] and keeps dragging him in deeper.
* Sam "Ace" Rothstein
from ''Film/{{Posse}}''.''Film/{{Casino}}''. He is professional to the point of analysing the types of wood different baseball bats are made of, or checking the windspeed during a game in order to analyse every variable of his gambling, so that, overall, he makes much more money than he loses. His associate Nicky, however, feels that he's missing the point of gambling by never having any fun with it.
* Creator/SteveMcQueenActor is "The Kid" and Creator/EdwardGRobinson is "The Man" in ''Film/TheCincinnatiKid''. Both aspire to be the best professional poker player in the country if not the world. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Care to lay a few bucks]] [[SignificantName on who wins?]]
* In ''Film/GhostTown1988'', Dealer is a blind gambler who has spent so much time handling the cards that he can ''feel'' what they are. Also acts as BlindSeer.



* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Lando Calrissian, part of the time. Other times he's either like Han and hunting treasure or smuggling, or trying to go legit and generally failing after a while. When he became the Baron-Administrator to Cloud City, it's because he won it in a card game.
** Han too, winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando.



* John "Lucky" Garnett of ''Film/SwingTime.'' He also [[Creator/FredAstaire dances a bit,]] but he insists that gambling is his real talent.
* Creator/SteveMcQueenActor is "The Kid" and Creator/EdwardGRobinson is "The Man" in ''Film/TheCincinnatiKid''. Both aspire to be the best professional poker player in the country if not the world. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Care to lay a few bucks]] [[SignificantName on who wins?]]
* In ''Film/CanyonPassage'', Lestrade is a professional gambler who makes his living skinning the miners in Jacksonville. He holds George's [=IOUs=] and keeps dragging him in deeper.

to:

* John "Lucky" Garnett of ''Film/SwingTime.'' He also [[Creator/FredAstaire dances a bit,]] but he insists that gambling is his real talent.
* Creator/SteveMcQueenActor is "The Kid" and Creator/EdwardGRobinson is "The Man" in ''Film/TheCincinnatiKid''. Both aspire to be the best professional poker player in the country if not the world. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Care to lay a few bucks]] [[SignificantName on who wins?]]
* In ''Film/CanyonPassage'', Lestrade is a professional gambler who makes his living skinning the miners in Jacksonville. He holds George's [=IOUs=] and keeps dragging him in deeper.
Father Time from ''Film/{{Posse}}''.



* In ''Film/GhostTown1988'', Dealer is a blind gambler who has spent so much time handling the cards that he can ''feel'' what they are. Also acts as BlindSeer.



* ''Film/{{Rounders}}'' is set in the world of professional poker.
* ''Film/{{Silverado}}'' has [[SmugSnake Slick]], who introduces himself as "a gambler looking to run [[BlatantLies an honest game]]." His [[spoiler: FaceHeelTurn]] comes as no surprise.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Lando Calrissian, part of the time. Other times he's either like Han and hunting treasure or smuggling, or trying to go legit and generally failing after a while. When he became the Baron-Administrator to Cloud City, it's because he won it in a card game.
** Han too, winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando.
* John "Lucky" Garnett of ''Film/SwingTime.'' He also [[Creator/FredAstaire dances a bit,]] but he insists that gambling is his real talent.



* "Doc" Holliday from ''Film/{{Tombstone}}'', though his first scene has him sticking up the game.




* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':

to:

\n* Jason [=dinAlt=] in Creator/HarryHarrison's ''Literature/{{Deathworld}}'' makes his money by gambling at various casinos all over the galaxy. It helps that he possesses weak and fickle PsychicPowers, and his MindOverMatter ability can be used to adjust the path of thrown dice and even nudge a roulette wheel. This stops after he moves to [[DeathWorld Pyrrus]].
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':



* Rafe Adova of ''Literature/ElementalBlessings''.
* In ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'', Hornblower is forced to do this after his promotion is cancelled in the Peace of Amiens and the Navy puts him under pay stoppage until he "repays" the salary he drew during that time. He makes himself a "permanent fourth" at whist in a high-class gambling house, where the owner gives him a small stipend for doing so (along with his winnings).
* Creator/MichaelChabon, in his semi-autobiographical novel''Moonglow'', depicts his mother's Uncle Ray as having given up the rabbinate for making his living as a pool hustler and poker player.
* Many of these appear in Creator/DamonRunyon's "Broadway" stories, including Big Nig the crap shooter, Regret the horse player, and Sky Masterson, who will bet on just about anything.
* ''Literature/TheSavant'' has Snodgrass and Minx, two men who make a living betting on horse races and rob Arlo because he's better at predicting winners than they are. [[spoiler:Arlo gets his revenge by tricking them into betting all their money on a horse he knows will lose. The incident shocks Snodgrass into going straight, but Minx continues on his destructive path.]]



* Several of Creator/WilliamMakepeaceThackeray's characters, generally [[ImpoverishedPatrician impoverished patricians]] spent time as cardsharps. The VillainProtagonist of ''Film/BarryLyndon'' was one, as was [[TheVamp Becky Sharp's]] husband Rawdon. Throughout his novels, there is an entire family named [[MeaningfulName Deuceace]] who have this as their "hat".

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* Several of Creator/WilliamMakepeaceThackeray's characters, generally [[ImpoverishedPatrician impoverished patricians]] spent time as cardsharps. The VillainProtagonist of ''Film/BarryLyndon'' was one, as was [[TheVamp Becky Sharp's]] husband Rawdon.Rawdon in ''Literature/VanityFair''. Throughout his novels, there is an entire family named [[MeaningfulName Deuceace]] who have this as their "hat".



* Jason [=dinAlt=] in Creator/HarryHarrison's ''Literature/{{Deathworld}}'' makes his money by gambling at various casinos all over the galaxy. It helps that he possesses weak and fickle PsychicPowers, and his MindOverMatter ability can be used to adjust the path of thrown dice and even nudge a roulette wheel. This stops after he moves to [[DeathWorld Pyrrus]].
* Rafe Adova of ''Literature/ElementalBlessings''.
* In ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'', Hornblower is forced to do this after his promotion is cancelled in the Peace of Amiens and the Navy puts him under pay stoppage until he "repays" the salary he drew during that time. He makes himself a "permanent fourth" at whist in a high-class gambling house, where the owner gives him a small stipend for doing so (along with his winnings).



* Many of these appear in Creator/DamonRunyon's "Broadway" stories, including Big Nig the crap shooter, Regret the horse player, and Sky Masterson, who will bet on just about anything.
* ''Literature/TheSavant'' has Snodgrass and Minx, two men who make a living betting on horse races and rob Arlo because he's better at predicting winners than they are. [[spoiler:Arlo gets his revenge by tricking them into betting all their money on a horse he knows will lose. The incident shocks Snodgrass into going straight, but Minx continues on his destructive path.]]
* Creator/MichaelChabon, in his semi-autobiographical novel "Moonglow", depicts his mother's Uncle Ray as having given up the rabbinate for making his living as a pool hustler and poker player.

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[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

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[[folder:Anime and & Manga]]


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* In ''Film/TodayWeKillTomorrowWedie'', Francis 'Colt' Moran is a professional gambler who is also an [[TheGunslinger expert gunslinger]] and [[BladeEnthusiast knife thrower]] who will work as a ProfessionalKiller if the money is right.
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* A trio of these appear in ''FanFic/ManehattansLoneGuardian'', with them being three to four times older than the filly they're playing cards against. They note that said filly, Fiver, has the potential to be one of these when she grows up, considering her generally good playing ability and excellent poker face. As such, none of them are upset when Fiver accidentally wins a hand against them.

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* A trio of these appear in ''FanFic/ManehattansLoneGuardian'', with them being three to four to five times older than the filly they're playing cards against. They note that said filly, Fiver, has the potential to be one of these when she grows up, considering her generally good playing ability and excellent poker face. As such, none of them are upset when Fiver accidentally wins a hand against them.
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[[folder:Fan Works]]
* A trio of these appear in ''FanFic/ManehattansLoneGuardian'', with them being three to four times older than the filly they're playing cards against. They note that said filly, Fiver, has the potential to be one of these when she grows up, considering her generally good playing ability and excellent poker face. As such, none of them are upset when Fiver accidentally wins a hand against them.
[[/folder]]
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As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, and possibly applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are poker, blackjack, and other card games; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiard. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting.

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As this way of earning an income only works with games that reward logical thinking, experience, and possibly applied psychology and acting ability, the professional gambler does not play at purely luck-based games, like roulette or slot machines. Favoured games are poker, blackjack, and other card games; more rarely seen are sports betting, dice games or billiard. In modern times, some will even try their chances at an [[https://time2play.com/casinos/bonuses/ online casino bonus]]. The exact skills required of a professional gambler vary from game to game: in blackjack, savant-like memory and counting skills help to make the game profitable, and poker requires practical psychology and acting.
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* ''Webcomic/{{Widdershins}}'': When O'Malley and Wolfe are on the road, O'Malley gambles at cards for a living, [[https://www.widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/april-2nd-2012 reading the other players]] with his emotional AuraVision.
-->'''Captain Barber:''' So you cheat at cards for a living.\\
'''O'Malley:''' S'not cheating, it's using a natural advantage, isn't it?
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* Creator/MichaelChabon, in his semi-autobiographical novel "Moonglow", depicts his mother's Uncle Ray as having given up the rabbinate for making his living as a pool hustler and poker player.

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Add example for Kenny Rogers as The Gambler


* In the first "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler" made-for-TV movie, Brady Hawks (Rogers) plays this pretty straight: he's a sharp dresser and he carries a [[LittleUselessGun hidden Derringer handgun]] for emergencies. He doesn't wear much visible jewelry, but he does have an expensive-looking cane and quite a lot of cash. He's very good at spotting cheats, and smacking them down for it too. He plays only poker, and he's very good at it. Not much changes in the four sequels, save that Hawks starts carrying a typical-for-the-period [[RevolversAreJustBetter .45 single-action revolver]] in addition to the Derringer.



* The Kenny Rogers song, "The Gambler", and the four or so TV movies derived from it.

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* The Kenny Rogers song, "The Gambler", and the four or so five TV movies derived from it.

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