(CBS 3) PHILADELPHIA An 18-An 18-year-old high school dropout does not often have a bright future, but one local teenager, featured in this month's Philadelphia Magazine , has left school behind for a lucrative career in on-line gambling.
“I buy a lot of watches, jewelry, clothes, earrings, cars,” said Jordan Berkowitz.
The Marple Township teenager is no actor or rap star, he is an online poker champ.
“I've won probably a dozen tournaments for $50,000 or more,” he said.
Berkowitz’s story is featured in this month's Philadelphia Magazine.
His black and red bedroom in his mom's house is a shrine to the game. He has an $85,000 BMW and a brand new Range Rover.
“What do I want for Christmas? Well, every day is like Christmas for me,” he said.
Berkowitz won a hand worth $300 in front of CBS 3’s cameras in about 20 seconds.
Earlier this year, he won a championship worth $57,000, but he said it online poker was not always fun.
Berkowitz lost thousands when he started a few years ago.
“I wasn't in school, I was playing poker, no money, I regretted not being in school,” he said.
Debt can drive people to desperation. The attorney representing a class president at Lehigh University accused of robbing a bank blames gambling debt as motivation for the crime.
“I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of what was going through his head. I'm sure, actually I do, because it went through mine,” said Berkowitz
“It was bad, but it was all worth it in the end, but I wouldn't recommend it 'cause not everyone's going to win the World Online Championship in poker,” he said. “Not everyone's going to win a million dollars in a few months, you know.”
For now, Berkowitz is stepping away from poker, taking a vacation, and thinking about taking a different gamble.
“I wouldn't mind investing in the stock market,” he said.
“I buy a lot of watches, jewelry, clothes, earrings, cars,” said Jordan Berkowitz.
The Marple Township teenager is no actor or rap star, he is an online poker champ.
“I've won probably a dozen tournaments for $50,000 or more,” he said.
Berkowitz’s story is featured in this month's Philadelphia Magazine.
His black and red bedroom in his mom's house is a shrine to the game. He has an $85,000 BMW and a brand new Range Rover.
“What do I want for Christmas? Well, every day is like Christmas for me,” he said.
Berkowitz won a hand worth $300 in front of CBS 3’s cameras in about 20 seconds.
Earlier this year, he won a championship worth $57,000, but he said it online poker was not always fun.
Berkowitz lost thousands when he started a few years ago.
“I wasn't in school, I was playing poker, no money, I regretted not being in school,” he said.
Debt can drive people to desperation. The attorney representing a class president at Lehigh University accused of robbing a bank blames gambling debt as motivation for the crime.
“I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of what was going through his head. I'm sure, actually I do, because it went through mine,” said Berkowitz
“It was bad, but it was all worth it in the end, but I wouldn't recommend it 'cause not everyone's going to win the World Online Championship in poker,” he said. “Not everyone's going to win a million dollars in a few months, you know.”
For now, Berkowitz is stepping away from poker, taking a vacation, and thinking about taking a different gamble.
“I wouldn't mind investing in the stock market,” he said.
