Online poker has always been one of my favorite ways to grind out some extra money. Unlike many traditional side hustles, poker is skill-based and allows you to work on your own schedule, whether that means playing a few times a week or logging in on weekends.
With low-stakes games available on most sites, the financial barrier to entry is relatively small, making it easy for any beginner to get in on the game, simply learn, and later on improve. When you approach this with the right mindset, you will see this is an angle most people don’t even realize exists.
What I Consider a Side Hustle
Okay, it’s really anything that’s not going to take up a lot of your time. Depending on how hard you want to go at this, it realistically shouldn’t add more than 10-20 hours per week to your actual routine. If later on you find it’s really working, you can re-evaluate. But in the beginning, it should feel more like background noise.
The goal in the beginning is simply learning the game. This means getting a basic feeling for different concepts like GTO, ABC, what hands to play pre-flop, and, honestly, just the absolute basics.
Why It Works as a Side Hustle
Online poker works because you log in when you have some downtime. You don’t need fixed hours, a boss, or any of that, and you can play when your schedule allows—late nights, weekends, or short sessions when I have time. That flexibility alone makes it very different from most side hustles.
What really makes poker viable is that its skill based. The more you study, track results, and stay disciplined, the more consistent your results become. I’m not relying on luck day to day; I’m making decisions and managing risk. Playing low and micro stakes keeps the pressure low and the bankroll requirements reasonable, which is the ideal situation in the beginning.
Another reason poker works is because its scalable. You start small, focus on solid fundamentals, and slowly increase volume or stakes later on. Hitting around 10,000 hands per month is where things start to get good or at least give you a feel for how you’re playing. You can, in a way, ease into this. As long as I stay patient and avoid chasing losses, poker becomes a repeatable process rather than gambling.
You really need to understand that playing online poker isn’t about trying to hit massive wins every time you play. It comes down to steady improvement, controlled risk, and eventually turning this into consistent money, whether we talk weekly or monthly.
Stakes To Start With
Okay, this is where a lot of people get tripped up. Really, the best stakes are going to be micro games in the beginning. This is anywhere from $5 to $10 games. At these stakes, you’re not risking a whole lot financially, so if you lose, it won’t be the end of the world. You must understand that losing money in the beginning is normal. You are simply getting a feel for the game. You can also learn more about what stakes to play here.
Once you really hone in your skills, you should be dominating these games after a few months of playing them. I would recommend multi-tabbing a few tables at a time. This will allow you to get more volume in and get closer to that 10,000 hands per month target I talked about earlier.
Strategy for These Games
This is pretty crucial. You don’t need to get fancy in these games. It’s best to use a simple playing style, something called GTO. This stands for game theory optimal, and there are plenty of resources online for you to learn exactly how this playing style works. It basically teaches you what hands to play based on different positions.
Ultimately, in poker, you don’t win every time. There is something called variance. This means that eventually, the best hand does not win. For example, if your pocket aces lose to pocket queens when you went all in preflop and lost, this would be variance. In these moments, you must learn not to let them get to you and move on quickly. Bottom line, play a GTO tight aggressive style, and you will do just fine.
How Much Can You Make?
I do have some data on exactly what to expect playing some of these low-stakes games. But realistically, playing $5 to $10 games, multi-tabling 4 tables at a time, you can expect to make anywhere from $300 to $1000 per month playing part-time. Which isn’t that bad since this is all on your own time.
You can make more when you move up in stakes. For example, if you’re playing $25 to $50 games, then it ranges from $1250 to $2500 per month, without having to play full-time. However, your goal in the beginning isn’t to move up and play high-stakes games. You just want to get a feel for the game, learn the different strategies, and generally just lock in.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes I had to learn to avoid was treating online poker like gambling instead of a side hustle. Playing tired, distracted, or emotionally tilted almost always led to bad decisions. Moving up the stakes too quickly was another costly error, especially after a short winning streak.
I also learned the hard way that chasing losses only makes things worse and turns a small setback into a bigger problem. Ignoring bankroll management and playing without clear limits made results inconsistent. Once I started playing with discipline, setting time limits, and sticking to stakes I could afford, poker became far more stable and sustainable. Having around 20 buy-ins for the level you’re playing is also critical. If you’re playing $10 games, you should start a $200 starting roll.
Final Thoughts
Playing online poker as a side hustle is something anyone can get into if they enjoy playing the game. Looking back on my own experience with it, it was honestly a no-brainer. I’ve always enjoyed playing games that challenge me, and that’s exactly what poker does.
If you ease into it and really learn all the different strategies I laid out, you will eventually find yourself crushing some of these low-stakes games. Just set realistic expectations for yourself, and don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself to hit targets for income. Just keep improving each time you log in and play, and eventually things will start to click.
FAQ
Can online poker really work as a side hustle?
Yes, it can, but only when I treat it like a skill-based activity and not a shortcut to easy money. Playing with structure, limits, and realistic expectations makes all the difference.
How much time do I need to commit?
I’ve found that even 5–10 focused hours per week can be enough to make progress. Consistency matters more than long, unfocused sessions.
Do I need a large bankroll to start?
No. I started at micro and low stakes with a small bankroll and focused on protecting it. Playing within my limits helped me learn without unnecessary stress.
Is luck a big factor?
Luck plays a role in the short term, but over time, my results depend far more on decision-making, discipline, and game selection. Variance is real, but it evens out with volume.
What’s the biggest key to success?
For me, it’s bankroll management and mindset. Avoiding tilt, sticking to a plan, and accepting small swings keep poker enjoyable and sustainable as a side hustle rather than a gamble.
