This is already seen in online poker in cash games at some limits where there are a lot of regulars. And it's very often discussed (and criticized) in online poker forums, where they say that these regulars are just shifting the money all around, with the house being the only real winner.
So your oversimplification doesn't get anything straight.
When you play poker you play against other players and against the house (rake and buy-in fees).
To give you an idea: there are semi-pro who would be losing players but who are actually making quite a decent profit only thanks to the partial rake-back that the house gives them (regulars players playing lots of hands get back a % of the rake they paid, which is called the rakeback).
Programming for a company = Playing in a casino (virtual or otherwise)
Programming for your own startup = Playing against players of a wide level of skills without a 'house' taking your money.