Casino Dealers
In today’s blog, we’ll be focusing on how to become a card dealer, which is arguably one of the best jobs you can get in a casino. Differing from slots technicians, who have to constantly be at the beck and call of players, and cashiers, who spend their days handing over coins for chips, being a card dealer is a skilled, fast-paced and rewarding role. In the US, the average pay for a casino dealer is around $14,000 and in the UK, as a trainee dealer you can expect to make up to £17,000. As a full-time employee you’d be expected to work 8 hour shifts, 5 days a week.
Ask any dealer at a casino and they’ll tell you that one of the main perks of being employed at a gaming resort or hall is the tips. Gambling books are full of advice about tipping dealers and you can make upwards of £100 an evening, just from tips. However, some casinos, such as Wynn Las Vegas have recently clamped down on the tipping policy. Now, if you do give a dealer a tip, it has to be split amongst the management and may be subject to tax. If you’re thinking of becoming a casino dealer, always check the casino’s policy on tips.
UPDATE: Read our exclusive interview with Colleen McLaughlin of the National Gaming Academy to find out more about casino training in the UK.
Your Gambling Education
In order to actually receive tips from players, you have to of course be a good dealer. While casinos often train up dealers, you can choose to educate yourself in numerous ways. Firstly, you can rely on the casino’s training, but we recommend you read up on classic casino card games beforehand. If you’re planning a complete career change, but don’t know anything about games such as blackjack, we recommend you check out a few casino game guides. If you're interested in how the cards are dealt in a game such as blackjack, make sure to consult our blackjack videos page for examples of real online gameplay.
Alternatively, you can attend an official gambling school. If you’re based in the US, you’ll find gambling schools in Las Vegas, California, Arizona and Florida. If you’re thinking of becoming a casino dealer in the UK, then we recommend you attend the Casino Gaming Education Services, which is based in London. This gambling school provides training for all of the top London gambling clubs and is a recognised educational centre within the UK Casino industry.
As a dealer in a casino, you may also require a regulatory license. In the States, these are usually issued by the casino’s gaming commission, so if you worked in a Las Vegas casino, you’d require one from the Nevada Gaming Commission. If you’re not sure how to apply for a license, we recommend you contact the casino directly, or ask in your interview.
Green Shoots: Casino Jobs
While both the UK and the US are in the grips of the recession, new casinos are constantly being built and opened by entrepreneurs. The competition for these jobs is fierce, so it pays to read up and even invest in your own dealer training. If you’re thinking of applying for a job as a casino dealer, try to read up on the games as much as possible. If you know the classic poker hand hierarchy off by heart, then this could help separate you from the rest of the competition. For more information about the casino industry in the States, we recommend you visit the American Gaming Association website.
