Poker Is Recommended as a Side Job! Actual Hourly Rates, Easy-to-Earn Apps Introduced [Taxes & Tax Filing Too]

When you start winning at poker, it’s not uncommon to think ‘I want to earn money from poker as a side job.’

Recently, the poker population has been growing, and some people enjoy nice meals or travel using extra income from poker.

This article introduces the reasons why poker is ideal as a side job, the actual hourly earnings, and recommended online poker apps for a side hustle.

It also explains taxes and tax filing when doing poker as a side job, so please use it as a reference.

Is Poker Recommended as a Side Job? Actual Hourly Rate and Income [With Testimonials]

Since poker is not a game where wins and losses are decided by luck like gambling, it’s possible to earn steadily as a side job through strategy and proper bankroll management.

There are actually people earning stable income from poker as a side hustle. The following poster succeeded in earning $93 per hour (equivalent to about ¥13,000).

The amount you can earn varies by skill — some earn below ¥1,000 per hour — but if you can earn an extra few tens of thousands of yen a month while enjoying it, that’s quite attractive as a side job.

No need to buy special equipment — for those who want to earn an extra few tens of thousands of yen a month while having fun, online poker is recommended!

Register for KK Poker through our site to receive a no deposit bonus of up to $45 and high rakeback settings.

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3 Reasons Why Poker Is Ideal as a Side Job

Now let’s introduce the 3 reasons why poker is said to be ideal as a side job.

I’ve compiled what I felt from actually playing poker, so if you’re considering using poker as a side hustle, please use this as a reference.

Let’s explain each in detail.

You Can Really Earn

The biggest question for those thinking of making poker a side job is probably ‘can you actually earn money?’

Just searching on social media briefly, you can find quite a few reviews saying you can earn a good amount.

The article “Tips for Earning from Online Poker” also explains things in detail, so please use it for reference.

Low Gambling Element

Some people say poker is gambling, but I personally think it has quite a game-like quality.

This is because while gambling is normally ‘operator vs. customer,’ poker is ‘customer vs. customer’ — a structure where one wins and the other loses.

Of course, you can’t completely eliminate the luck element, but as you can see from the world’s top players, poker is a game where you simply can’t win on luck alone.

No Restrictions on Place or Time

Recently, you can enjoy poker with just one smartphone.

You can earn money from poker during work breaks, your commute, or when you have free time.

The most recommended poker site to start with on your smartphone is “KKPoker“!

KK Poker is smartphone-optimized, so the app basically never freezes or crashes. There are no troubles like ‘the screen froze at a crucial moment in a tournament and I lost,’ so you can earn stress-free.

Right now, site-exclusive no deposit bonus worth up to $45 as a gift! It’s a chance to earn with zero funds!

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Tips for Earning from Poker as a Side Job

Now let’s introduce tips for using poker as a side hustle.

If you’re thinking of earning money from poker from now on, please use this as a reference.

Start from Low Stakes

When starting poker, make sure not to immediately jump into high-stakes games.

First, play at low-stakes tables and focus on improving your own skills.

Starting at high stakes right away has a high possibility of being eaten alive by strong players and losing your bankroll in no time.

There are a certain number of players targeting ‘fish’ (meaning ‘easy marks’), so you need to be careful.

Only after you can win at low-stakes tables is it recommended to gradually increase your stakes.

Tight Playing Style

In the beginning, a tight playing style is important.

Tight playing means playing a solid style — entering hands you can win with and folding weak hands.

Of course, bluffing occasionally is also important, but at first a play style faithful to basics will have a higher win rate.

It’s recommended to use tight play as the foundation, and gradually try out various plays as you get comfortable.

Study from Books

To win consistently at poker, studying from books and gathering information is important.

Playing as many hands as possible is of course important for improving at poker, but that alone makes it hard to reach intermediate or advanced levels.

You need to properly master the standard plays and way of thinking in poker.

Apply the thinking you gained from reading and the standard plays you understood in actual play.

Then study any areas of concern back in the book again.

The more you repeat this cycle, the more your poker skills will improve.

Recommended poker books are introduced below.

Reflect on Your Play

The most important point for winning at poker is to reflect on your play.

Reflect on your own playing after every session and play while thinking about why you took each action.

Of course, not just reflecting but applying it to your next play is what matters.

Each accumulation will strengthen your future self!

For game reflection, KKPoker is especially recommended as it has a rich selection of tools like HUD.

KK Poker’s HUD tools are paid, but registering through our site lets you use them free for a limited time. First, register through the button below.

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Recommended Online Poker Sites & Apps for Side Jobs

Online poker that’s recommended for a side hustle is sites and apps meeting these conditions:

• Has a no deposit bonus
• Has rakeback
• Has many events

The online poker options that satisfy these conditions are “KK Poker (KKPoker)” and “GG Poker (GGPoker).” Here we introduce the features of each.

KK Poker (KKPoker)

No Deposit Bonus	[Site Exclusive] Up to $45 equivalent
Rakeback	Available — Our site keeps the rakeback rate from dropping!
Event	Freeroll every 6 hours + Club-exclusive freeroll

The most recommended for a side job is KK Poker, which has top-level recognition in Japan.

Through the KK Poker-authorized club ‘OnCaji Record’ operated by our site, you not only get a no deposit bonus of up to $45 equivalent, but also high rakeback with no play conditions.

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GGPoker

No Deposit Bonus	[Site Exclusive] $20
Rakeback	Available
Events	High-value tournaments including world championships

GG Poker is an online poker platform with a very large number of registered users, hosting world championships and more.

There are also VIP games — high-stakes games — where skilled players can earn large amounts in an hour.

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Cautions When Making Poker a Side Job

Now let’s also introduce cautions when making poker a side hustle.

If you play poker while following the cautions introduced here, your win rate should gradually improve, so please use this as a reference!

Let’s explain each in detail, so please use this as a reference!

Use Your Brain Properly

Even if you want to enjoy and earn from poker, you can’t earn by playing without thinking.

Think carefully about each and every move you make.

If you can gradually start thinking through your plays, your win rate will surely improve.

At first you may lose a lot, but let’s improve little by little.

Don’t Suddenly Play at High Stakes

Online poker has something called ‘stakes.’

Simply put, it refers to the bet amount. Playing at high stakes right away means your opponents’ level is high too, and above all, your money will disappear quickly.

First, win at low stakes before gradually raising your stakes.

Understand That Not Being Able to Win Sometimes Is Inevitable

When using poker as a side job, you must understand that there will inevitably be times you can’t win.

Earlier I said ‘poker has low gambling element,’ but there is still a certain element of luck.

Losing in situations that can only be called bad luck is called a ‘bad beat,’ and no matter how smoothly you’re playing, there are times when you suddenly lose.

In particular for beginners, there will certainly be days where “I couldn’t earn anything today…” happen.

Even top poker pros lose on a daily basis.

If you want to earn from poker, track your earnings from a long-term perspective.

Do You Need to File Taxes for Poker Side Income?

For poker side income, if annual profit exceeds ¥200,000, tax filing is required; from over ¥500,000 in profit, tax payment is also required.

Here we explain in detail along with the tax law rules.

Tax Filing Required When Earning ¥200,000 or More Annually

First, if you earn ¥200,000 or more from poker as a side job in a year, filing is required.

This is clarified by the National Tax Agency’s explanation below:

“2. A person receiving salary from one place who has total income other than salary income and retirement income exceeding ¥200,000.” — Who needs to file a tax return | National Tax Agency

As written “other than,” even company employees need to file taxes if they earn over ¥200,000 outside their main job.

The ¥200,000 Is Net Profit “After Deducting Expenses”

What’s important here is that the ¥200,000 above is not the pure prize amount.

• Deduct necessary expenses
• If the remainder exceeds ¥200,000, tax filing is required

For example, say you needed ¥100,000 to earn ¥200,000. In that case, ¥100,000 in expenses deducted gives ‘profit = ¥100,000,’ so tax filing is not required.

Conversely, if you earned ¥300,000 with ¥100,000 in expenses, the result is ¥200,000, so tax filing is required (exactly ¥200,000 doesn’t require it).

What Counts as Expenses for Poker Side Income?

Expenses mainly include things like:

• Tournament entry fees
• Purchase of paid options
• Transportation costs for participating in tournaments
• Book purchases

Tournament entry fees are definitely necessary. For books, titles that are clearly beneficial for winning at poker — like those introduced in the article below — can be claimed as expenses.

“Up to ¥500,000 in Profit” — Tax Payment Not Required (Filing May Be Required)

Surprisingly little-known, even if poker side income exceeds ¥200,000, tax payment is still not required.

Filing is required, but you don’t need to pay taxes.

Tax payment becomes required from ‘profit of ¥500,000.’ This is of course the amount after deducting expenses.

Gambling Income Is “Temporary Income”

Including online poker, gambling income is classified as ‘temporary income.’

Temporary income includes things like:

• Contest or lottery prizes / gifts
• Horse racing / bicycle racing payouts (※ Online poker falls under this)
• Lump-sum insurance payments
• Cash and gifts donated by corporations
• Reward money received by finders of lost property or discoverers of buried items

[Reference] Temporary Income | National Tax Agency 

Temporary Income Is Tax-Free Up to ¥500,000

Temporary income is not taxed up to ¥500,000 (tax-free).

This is because there is a ‘special deduction of ¥500,000.’

Temporary income is calculated using the formula:

Total income − Amount spent to earn that income (note) − Special deduction (max ¥500,000) = Temporary income amount [Reference] Temporary Income | National Tax Agency

Simply put, it’s “Revenue − Expenses − ¥500,000 = Temporary income.”

For example, if expenses are ¥150,000, total prize money up to ¥650,000 is tax-free.

Tax Rate for Temporary Income Is the Same as Regular Income Tax

You may wonder ‘is the tax rate for temporary income different from normal taxes?’ or ‘is it higher for overseas online poker?’

The answer is: it’s the same as regular taxes.

More precisely, it is added to regular income and income tax is applied at the regular rate.

The tax rates at that time are as follows (same as regular income tax rates):

Taxable Income	Tax Rate	Deduction
¥1,950,000 or less	5％	0円
Over ¥1,950,000 to ¥3,300,000	10％	97,500円
Over ¥3,300,000 to ¥6,950,000	20％	427,500円
Over ¥6,950,000 to ¥9,000,000	23％	636,000円
Over ¥9,000,000 to ¥18,000,000	33％	1,536,000円
Over ¥18,000,000 to ¥40,000,000	40％	2,796,000円
Over ¥40,000,000	45％	4,796,000円

[Reference] Income Tax Rates | National Tax Agency 

The deduction is the amount you subtract after calculating the tax amount by the tax rate (it reduces your tax by that amount).

Conclusion: “Basically No Tax Payment Required as a Side Job — But Tax Filing May Be Needed”

Very few people can earn ¥500,000 or more from poker as a side job.

(No matter how small the expenses, total prize money should be ¥550,000 or more.)

Since you don’t need to pay taxes unless you earn that much, very few people who do poker as a side job will need to pay taxes.

However, exceeding ‘¥200,000’ does happen sometimes. In that case, tax payment is not required but tax filing is.

Tips for Earning More than ¥200,000 from Poker Side Income

To match a company employee’s salary from poker side income, check the following information and proceed with play:

• The average monthly take-home pay for Japanese people is about ¥240,000
• Hourly rate calculation to earn ¥240,000
• Select online poker that can generate the expected hourly rate
• Increase bankroll to prepare for downswings
•  Work without breaks

Let’s confirm each in detail.

Hourly Rate Needed to Earn ¥200,000+

The hourly rate to earn ¥200,000 works out to approximately ¥2,400.

This figure is derived from the following calculation:

If you can earn this hourly rate, you should be able to earn approximately ¥200,000 per month from poker as a side job.

However, note that an hourly rate of ¥1,923 is not something you can earn right away.

Select Online Poker That Can Generate the Expected Hourly Rate

Next, you need to select online poker that can produce your expected hourly rate.

Basically any online poker works, but KK Poker is recommended for its large number of players.

The stakes at which ¥1,923 can be achieved as an expected hourly rate is $1–$3, and earning 8BB per hour is enough.

8BB is an amount that can be comfortably achieved by winning the hands you should win.

However, the $1–$3 stakes in online poker is an advanced table, so prior practice is essential.

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Build Bankroll to Prepare for Downswings

To play $1–$3, having a bankroll of about $6,000 should be enough to withstand downswings.

A rough calculation guideline is BB × 2,000.

$6,000 is approximately ¥800,000 depending on the exchange rate, which is an amount that cannot be achieved without properly building up at tables below $1–$3.

Build Bankroll to Prepare for Downswings

To play $1–$3, having a bankroll of about $6,000 should be enough to withstand downswings.

A rough calculation guideline is BB × 2,000.$6,000 is approximately ¥800,000 depending on the exchange rate, which is an amount that cannot be achieved without properly building up at tables below $1–$3.

Is Online Poker Illegal?

When thinking of making online poker a side job, some people may worry about whether earning from it is illegal.

To get straight to the point, online poker is not illegal.

The reasons online poker can be said to be not illegal include:

1. Operated and managed overseas
2. Doesn’t meet the conditions for application of gambling laws
3. Non-prosecuted in the past

Let’s explain each item as simply as possible, even though legal topics are involved.

Reason ① It Is Operated and Managed Overseas

The first reason online poker can be said to be not illegal is that the companies providing online poker are overseas companies operating abroad.

Having people gamble with real money is prohibited by law as the crime of operating illegal gambling.

However, this is Japanese law, so it only applies within Japan.

Most poker sites and online casinos operate overseas in compliance with local laws.

Since they are operating legally overseas, there is no issue even if they violate Japanese law.

Reason ② Does Not Meet the Conditions for Gambling Law Application

The second reason it’s not illegal is that it doesn’t meet the conditions for gambling law application.

Gambling in Japan means an operator making customers gamble with money or goods.

In other words, to prosecute someone for gambling, both the operator and the customer are needed.

As introduced in Reason ①, the overseas operator who is legally running the business cannot be punished, so both cannot be arrested together and gambling charges cannot be applied.

Therefore, online poker can be said to be not illegal.

Reason ③ Non-Prosecuted in the Past

The third reason is that users who were earning from online casinos — including online poker — have been non-prosecuted.

Non-prosecution means being investigated by police but not indicted by the prosecutor.

Non-prosecution can happen due to insufficient evidence, but online casino history is preserved and identity verification should have been done, so evidence should have been sufficient in this case.

The fact that non-prosecution occurred despite having evidence suggests there was a high possibility of acquittal if it went to trial.

Since they were investigated but didn’t go to trial, the likelihood of being investigated in the future is low.

In the first place, while many users earn from online casinos and online poker, you rarely hear of anyone being prosecuted except for tax evasion.

Unless new laws are created, the possibility of being prosecuted is very low.

Actions That Could Potentially Be Illegal

Making online poker a side job is legal in most cases.

However, there are some actions that could potentially be illegal:

These are ways of playing online poker that could potentially be illegal.

Playing for large sums with family members could be considered gambling where all parties are both operator and customer.

In particular, regarding taxes, even professional poker players have reportedly made mistakes, so we explain in detail in the next section.

“Up to ¥500,000 in Profit” — Tax Payment Not Required (Filing May Be Required)

Surprisingly little-known, even if poker side income exceeds ¥200,000, tax payment is still not required.

Filing is required, but you don’t need to pay taxes. Tax payment becomes required from ‘profit of ¥500,000.’ This is the amount after deducting expenses.

Gambling Income Is “Temporary Income”

Including online poker, gambling income is classified as ‘temporary income.’

Temporary income includes: 

[Reference] Temporary Income | National Tax Agency 

Temporary Income Is Tax-Free Up to ¥500,000

Temporary income is not taxed up to ¥500,000, due to a ‘special deduction of ¥500,000.’

Temporary income formula: Total income − Expenses − Special deduction (max ¥500,000) = Temporary income

[Reference] Temporary Income | National Tax Agency 

Simply: “Revenue − Expenses − ¥500,000 = Temporary income.”

If expenses are ¥150,000, up to ¥650,000 in total prizes is tax-free.

Same Tax Rate as Regular Income Tax

You may wonder ‘is the tax rate for temporary income different from normal taxes?’ or ‘is it higher for overseas online poker?’

The answer is: it’s the same as regular taxes.

More precisely, it is added to regular income and income tax is applied at the regular rate.

The tax rates at that time are as follows (same as regular income tax rates):

Taxable Income	Tax Rate	Deduction
¥1,950,000 or less	5％	0円
Over ¥1,950,000 to ¥3,300,000	10％	97,500円
Over ¥3,300,000 to ¥6,950,000	20％	427,500円
Over ¥6,950,000 to ¥9,000,000	23％	636,000円
Over ¥9,000,000 to ¥18,000,000	33％	1,536,000円
Over ¥18,000,000 to ¥40,000,000	40％	2,796,000円
Over ¥40,000,000	45％	4,796,000円

[Reference] Income Tax Rates | National Tax Agency

The deduction is the amount you subtract after calculating the tax amount by the tax rate (it reduces your tax by that amount).

Conclusion: “Basically No Tax Payment Required as a Side Job”

Very few people can earn ¥500,000 or more from poker as a side job.

(No matter how small the expenses, total prize money should be ¥550,000 or more.)

Since you don’t need to pay taxes unless you earn that much, very few people who do poker as a side job will need to pay taxes.

However, exceeding ‘¥200,000’ does happen sometimes.

In that case, tax payment is not required but tax filing is.

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Make Poker Your Side Job and Enjoyably Boost Your Annual Income!

Poker allows you to earn more than ¥10,000 per hour by the stakes, making it a recommended side hustle for those who love poker.

However, depending on how much you earn from poker, you may need to pay taxes or file a tax return, so be careful.

For those who want to boost their annual income with side income while having fun, use this article as a reference and register for an easy-to-earn online poker site.

For beginners or those anxious about high stakes, KK Poker (KKPoker) is recommended. Registering through our site lets you get a no deposit bonus worth up to $45.