Some do and some don’t. It depends on the format, the stakes and the player’s goals. Many cash-game pros play with their own money, because cash games have smaller swings. In tournament poker, staking is very common. Lots of professional MTT players have some or all of their action backed, even when they could afford to play alone.
Cash games vs. tournaments
Cash games have lower variance. A winning player can build a bankroll and keep it growing, so most cash-game pros use their own money.
Tournaments are a different story. Huge fields mean long losing stretches between big scores, even for the best players. Covering that variance alone takes a very large bankroll, so staking and selling action are part of everyday MTT life.
Why pros with money still get staked
- To reduce variance. Selling action smooths out the swings, so one bad year doesn’t wipe out a bankroll.
- To play bigger games. Backing lets a player enter tournaments well above what their own bankroll would allow.
- For the coaching. Good stables include coaching and study tools. Many players happily share profit for the improvement it brings.
- To put their own money elsewhere. Some players prefer to keep their savings in property, stocks or other investments and leave the poker swings to a backer.
Why some players use their own money
- They keep 100% of the profit. No splits and no makeup.
- They have full freedom. They choose their own games, schedule and stakes.
- They’re comfortable at their level. A player happy at their current stakes with a solid bankroll may not need a backer.
The trade-off is risk: the downswings are all theirs, and they pay for their own coaching.
A bankroll is an investment
For a professional player, a bankroll works like a business investment, and staking yourself is a real financial decision. Away from the tables, most pros invest like anyone else, in savings, property and stocks. Some also back other players, effectively becoming investors in someone else’s edge.
What we see at Pocarr
We back 250+ tournament players, and they join for different reasons. Some need backing to play the games they want. Many could play on their own money but join for the coaching, the team and the chance to move up faster. Others simply prefer to keep their savings invested elsewhere and let us carry the variance.
Curious whether staking is right for you? Read what is staking in poker? and how stables decide who to stake, or apply now.
Want to play on our bankroll?
Pocarr stakes 250+ MTT players and coaches every one of them. Management typically reviews applications within 24 hours.
