From Fast Food To Fast Cash: Dan Cates Biggest Online Poker Money Maker 2010

Dan Cates had been working in a McDonalds before trying his hand a professional poker online.  Now he finishes 2010 as the biggest money maker in the game online.  Cates beat out online poker phenom Tom “Durrrr” Dwan and Phil Ivey for the honor. 

The 20-year-old economics major at the University of Maryland isn’t even old enough to play in most land-based casinos.

Cates plays an average of 650 hands a day. He’s thinking about moving out of the country to avoid paying taxes on his winnings, according to the Washingtonian.

After making $5.5 million in 2010, he can expect to pay a lot of taxes.

Coming in second was Andreas Torbergsen (Skjervoy), who made $3.7 million and just narrowly edged out Dwan at $3.6 million.

Phil Ivey made a nice $3 million, though he was just pushed out of the all-time poker money maker top ranking by Daniel Negreanu a few weeks ago.

Di Dang (Urindanger) made $2.2 million playing online poker in 2010.

- Patrick Flanagan, Gambling911.com