Professional Slots Players

By Alex J. Coyne © 2018 Great Bridge Links. (Updated 2024)

Last week we explored the topic of bridge professionals. This week we’re going to see if there are actually any Slot Machine Pros. Most expect that there would be professional players earning a full or part-time living in most forms of gambling: Bridge, blackjack, poker, even video poker. But Slot Machine Pros? We went digging for some news articles, links, books and more to see what we could find out about the world of professional slots players.

So Do Professional Slots Players Exist?

Yes! There are people who consider themselves professional slot players, but the concept differs quite a bit from professional players in skill-based games like poker or blackjack.

Professional slot players often focus on maximizing their chances through bonuses, promotions, and progressive jackpots rather than relying on skill to beat the game, as slots are primarily games of chance. These players apply a disciplined approach to manage their bankrolls, selecting machines based on payout percentages, jackpot sizes, and play strategy that includes setting loss limits and knowing when to cash out. Their professionalism is more about financial and risk management than manipulating the odds, which remain fixed by the machine’s programming and the casino’s configuration.

Starting to dig

It turns out there are a fair amount of gamblers who earn a living playing slots, but there are very few public professional slot machine players out there. Many are making their living through online play, while some go on casino-sprees and live off the winnings; others are coaching their casino tricks – and some are just professional gamblers that happen to play a lot of slots, enough to list slots as a regular income.

Earnest Cobb, The Slots Guru

Meet Earnest Cobb, the self-proclaimed Slots Guru. He’s also the author of “Secrets to Hitting More Jackpots: Getting the Winning Edge (2012),” a book where he claims to have won more than $10 million playing the slot machine system. Some reviews have criticized the book for being too close to self-help and the Law of Attraction, while some have said that they did find some useful strategy tips in the book that they could apply when at the machines. He’s also received considerable media coverage for his gambling feats, including TLC on TV, GGB Magazine, ABC Arizona and, of course, Great Bridge Links.

Cobb’s strategies often involve choosing the right machines and employing specific betting techniques, but it’s important to note that the effectiveness of such strategies can be subjective as slot outcomes are primarily determined by random number generators. Cobb’s approach and success have inspired many, but as with all gambling, results can vary widely among individuals.

Editor’s Note: 2024 Update – You can WATCH EARNEST COBB on his youtube channel!

John Grochowski

John Grochowski is a writer, weekly gambling columnist and professional gambler. Among others, he’s written The Slot Machine Answer Book, The Casino Answer Book, The Video Poker Answer Book and more. John has also been happy to pass on his expert advice over the years, which would put him in the category of a professional player in many forms, though part time at slots. In fact, here’s a piece on RGT Online where he discusses playing slots full-time, and his advice is this:

“I have one piece of advice for you: Don’t do this. If you don’t need the money, put it in savings, speak to an investment counselor, make a nice donation to charity, buy yourself something cool — anything. But DO NOT attempt to become a professional slot player. At any game, playing professionally is a pipe dream for most players. Even at blackjack, most players who attempt to count cards can’t really beat the house.”

Enrique Free-Pacheco

Okay, so we’ve got one more for you. Here’s the story of Enrique Free-Pacheco, who won big at the casinos in Vegas – between 2007 to 2010. Free-Pacheco played the one-armed bandit more than 700,000 times in Las Vegas casinos, winning millions of dollars in jackpots and losing millions more. Of course, this was to be taxed like any other winnings. Enrique, however, decided that he wasn’t falling for it: He attempted to sue the IRS for sixteen million back, claiming that slots were his full-time income, and he took the issue to court – but the court unfortunately considered that he wasn’t gambling with nearly enough frequency (and not for long enough stretches at a time) to consider him a professional anything, and he didn’t get to claim anything. The article can be found on Maxwell, Locke & Ritter (“Three Lemons for ‘Professional’ Slot Machine Player”).

Meet the Dice Girl

Meet Dice Girl, a dynamic slot streamer who has transformed her love for slots into a thriving career. Egle, a 26-year-old from Lithuania, has built a vibrant community called “Dice Girls” on Twitch, where she shares the excitement of online slot games. Her streams offer not just the thrill of gameplay but also a welcoming space for camaraderie, support, and fun. Does this make her a ‘professional?’ Well, if she’s making a living playing slots, we think that qualifies. Whether the money comes from the machines or from viewers, it all adds up!