What do sportsmen and women do when their playing careers are over? There are many options but a select few have made the transition to the poker table. Former Spurs, Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham is known to have made over £330,000 at the poker table and there are many like him.

  The origins of some of our favorite table games are often debated, but we do know for sure that the first slot machine appeared in 1887. This machine was known as the Liberty Bell and was developed by Charles Fell who released the complete design in 1891.

  We know that, in addition to skill and a certain amount of luck, it also takes a certain amount of patience and stamina to be truly successful at poker. In the modern era, tournaments will last for hours, days or even months but that is nothing compared to the world poker endurance record.

  While hard evidence may be lacking in this story, it is certain that an incredible marathon took place at the theater and, it is said, some $10,000,000 changed hands.

  One night at Les Ambassadeurs Club in Mayfair, Maxwell managed to lose £1.5 million in three minutes while playing on three tables simultaneously. A shocking and record-breaking loss, but one that the multi-millionaire businessman could probably afford to lose quite comfortably.

  Later, through a series of car boot sales and auctions, Revell had amassed £135,300 and was left with nothing but the clothes on his back. Heading to the roulette wheel at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, he bet it all on red and, fortunately for Revell and most of his television audience, the Red 7 landed and paid out a cool £270,600.

  Las Vegas holds a number of gaming records but we have to move across the US to find the largest casino in the country. It is called WinStar World Casino and is located in Thackerville Oklahoma and is about an hour drive from Oklahoma City.

  WinStar World Casino also has a hotel, two swimming pools and no less than 12 restaurants. It is truly a monster but it is dwarfed by the world record holder. In Macau, the Venetian measures 10,500,000 square feet.

  The use of fruit in slot games has continued into the digital age with games like Jackpot Jester and Double Diamond using classic fruit symbols on their reels. Slot titles also pay homage and examples include the self-explanatory Very Fruity and Fruit Blast.

  To help you understand all the steps, we have put together this detailed guide. As you will see, there is more to being a professional gambler than Hollywood suggests…

  If it's sports, there's always a football game or horse race to watch. For poker players, there are always opponents to study and odds to calculate.

  Learning is very important because only with knowledge can you make the best decisions and maximize your chances of winning.

  If you don't have a full understanding of the odds behind each bet, then you can't make the best decisions. Bad decisions will ultimately lead to your failure as a professional gambler.

  For example, twin brothers Gavin and Alex Walker watch four or five games a day while betting on football. Their dedication to their craft saw them earn £440,000 in an 18-month period.

  If you want similar success, you have to treat gambling as your full-time job. Show up every day and work at it.

  The difference between professional and average bettors is that they get things right more often than they get things wrong. Being too superstitious may prevent you from doing this.

  Leaving your lucky charms at home and not betting on your favorite sports teams is one thing, but when it comes to casino games, letting go of your emotions is even more important.

  To be successful in a casino, you need to be able to count cards and bluff well, but those attributes won't help you if you like to bet on sports.

  This has led to the rise of matched bettors, gamblers who make money through so-called “free bets”. The beauty of such bonuses is that you are not risking any real capital.

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  Although stakes are not returned from any bets placed with free bets, anything generated from those bets is pure profit.

  Long before football became the most popular betting sport, professional gamblers were already seen at horse racing tracks around the world.

  Thanks to betting exchanges and the widespread use of statistical models by betting syndicates today, the average punter can now see which horses to back and which to bet on to lose.

  This provides an alternative way for professional gamblers to make money: Follow a syndicate or a favorite opponent – ​​who usually loses about two-thirds of the time.

  Because you can bet for or against sporting outcomes, it is often likened to financial traders playing the stock market.

  You can buy sports bets you like by backing them and sell bets you don't like by laying them off.

  What this exchange allows you to do is to complement any bet you have made through a fixed odds sportsbook. That means you can cover all your bases. This is a wise move.

  Finding those margins allows you to back and lay the same outcome on a sporting event, guaranteeing you a profit regardless of the final result.

  When you gamble on different websites and betting services, you need to keep a good record of your bets. This prevents confusion.

  As each hand is dealt and played, you need to know which cards are on the table and which ones are yet to appear.

  Research and knowledge is required and must be constantly updated, so this can turn valuable entertainment, such as watching sports, into a chore.

  Smart bettors will withdraw some of their winnings while leaving something to play with for future bets.

  It's a good idea to look beyond the football game, horse race or sporting event you're currently betting on to see what's happening elsewhere.

  Even if you don't bet on these other games, you might learn something or even find potential opportunities for the future.

  Even as a professional, there is one golden rule: Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

  Stick to your budget and betting limits. Sticking to this is essential as overspending can lead to financial ruin.