Casinos have a certain allure that is irresistible to some. The faded lighting, the boastful atmosphere, the colorful yet professional décor, and some of the most exciting games can have an effect on even the most stoic of people. As such, the prospect of working in a casino is also an interesting proposition that many have considered, with dealers being the most enigmatic of all casino employees.
There is something cool about the professional, silent, dignified, well-dressed dealer who mixes a deck of cards and controls the game as if it were second to nature. You wouldn’t be the only person who wondered, “I want to be that person.” But how can you become a casino dealer? What qualifications do you need? And is it worth it?
In this article, we talk about what you should do to become a professional casino dealer, including skills, licenses, and other qualifications.
You need several prior qualifications to become a casino dealer, but these requirements may vary from place to place. For example, in the US, you need to be graduated from high school and have to complete a dealer course to get the necessary qualifications.
Some casinos provide courses free of charge in exchange for a commitment to the establishment. You also need a gaming license, which is provided to you if your background checks out, and you pay a fee for the license.
There are certain necessary skills you have to possess as well to be a professional casino dealer. As you will be interacting with a lot of people, you need to handle social situations well, even if the patron is confrontational or inebriated. Naturally, you have to have a great understanding of card games and math as well. Having prior experience is a huge boost as well.
Overall, the following qualifications are either required or highly suggested for aspiring casino dealers:
If you like casinos, customer service, and games and want an exciting career with a good salary, being a casino dealer is a great option for you. As stated before, the job certainly has a specific allure that can’t be matched in any other field of work, so if you feel that it is your calling, go for it.
While some casinos may require you to have prior experience, plenty of establishments hire people new to the employment market, so it’s a great start to your career in the field. The customer service part is admittedly stressful: Handling people politely regardless of their behavior, keeping up with the game to the utmost degree, and remaining vigilant is definitely an acquired taste.
However, if you believe you can handle yourself in situations like this or have prior experience, you’ll find that dealing can be an extremely rewarding job.
Casino dealers also get a reasonably good paycheck. In the US, the average salary is around $68,000, but In certain places, such as San Jose, CA, it goes up to as much as $135,000. That, coupled with tips and other benefits, can surely improve the conditions for comfortable living. Couple that with your love for card games and showmanship, and you are essentially earning money with your hobby.
A professional casino dealer needs many skills regarding card games, customer service, and even mathematics. This is because a casino dealer has a wide array of responsibilities that they have to fulfill. Some of these are the following:
All this work needs to be done in a professional, polite, swift, and efficient manner. For this reason, casino dealers need high levels of patience and social skills. Most interactions are perfectly normal, but there is a code employees need to uphold, even if the customer is slightly belligerent.
To ensure the game is played fairly, the dealer needs to have a great deal of knowledge about the game being played. They need to know the next step at any particular moment in an instant and need to do quick calculations to determine winners and payouts. They also need to be incredibly vigilant to catch cheaters. To summarize, here are the most important skills you need as a casino dealer:
If you are asking if there’s a special school teaching the trade, then no, you do not need to go to school to become a professional casino dealer. There are no institutions of education that offer qualifications like diplomas or casino dealer scholarships. However, you generally need to have at least a successful high school-level educational background.
Most casinos require a high school diploma or a similar document to consider you. This is due to the fact that dealers need to be quick on their feet and do complex calculations on the go. Although a high school diploma does not guarantee this skill, it makes the vetting process much easier for casinos.
If you have a diploma and you are ready for the next step, you need to complete a casino dealer course. This is not a universal practice, as casinos all over the world have different requirements, but generally speaking, you need to have some sort of proof of your dealing expertise.
These will test your gaming expertise, prepare you for the trials you might face on the job, and at the end, test your knowledge and offer you an audition. Passing that, there is a good chance that you will be hired.
Some casinos offer courses, sometimes even for free, but there are other programs that offer similar training. The best practice is to be informed about the casino that you want to work at.
Yes, you need a license to become a professional casino dealer. Casinos generally need gaming licenses to operate, and so do the employees. Casino dealers have a great deal of responsibility on a day-to-day basis, so the governing bodies need to be sure of their identity and qualifications.
You have to apply for these licenses at your local gaming commission. You can do that after a successful application, even just inform your would-be employees. The application involves hefty documentation with a fee paid and a background check.
If you have a criminal background, you will most likely be disqualified. Otherwise, the process should take a few weeks to a month. Keep in mind that you may need to pay an annual fee to uphold your license’s validity.
Be aware that these are not universal licenses. In the US, each state has a body of authority that issues these licenses. These only permit you to operate in that specific state, so if you want to practice elsewhere, you need to redo the process with the local system. The license works similarly outside the US as well.
To illustrate simply how you can become a casino dealer from start to finish, here is a summarized step-by-step guide about the processes and necessary qualifications written in the article:
And there you have it! All you need to know about working your dream job is now at your disposal. Good luck on your journey, and keep on dealing!
