Whether it’s the sound of the slots or the feeling of running a selection of live casino games, something made the idea of being a dealer sound appealing to you.
Who could blame you? It’s a fast-paced and fun environment, and once you have the required skills, it probably won’t even feel like work.
As you can imagine, getting there takes work. Remember that the casino business is pretty risky, and dropping the ball could have serious consequences.
That’s why dealers need to be prepared and trained for anything. Did you know that there were established training programs and licensing for this kind of thing?
If you didn’t, you’ve come to the right place. Once you’re finished reading, you’ll know all the fundamentals of becoming a casino dealer.
What Do Casino Dealers Do?
Starting on a simple note, it’s good to formally understand what is expected from a casino dealer so you know what you’d need to do. As you know, people come in to play games, and the casino dealers run them.
If it’s a card game, you would be responsible for the shuffling and dealing, taking bets, and keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior to ensure no one is cheating. You will play a big part in tipping off security, if necessary.
While the game is going on, you will be on pot management duty. After each hand, you’ll pay out the winnings.
Not every game requires a dealer to hang around. Take the slot machines, for example. In these cases, you would help the players by answering their questions and giving their payouts.
Though some people imagine casinos as free for all places, there are a lot of rules and regulations involved. A part of the job is also ensuring that these rules are followed.
If you have new players, be ready to explain the rules of the games they’re interested in. Additionally, you’ll want to communicate with them positively to build the kind of atmosphere that encourages them to play.
What Should You Do to Become One?
Now, here are the basics that you need to know before you set out on your journey to become a dealer.
Training
You’ll need to enroll in and complete a casino dealing training course to get started. Arguably the most important thing is to understand the laws and regulations at both local and state levels. There are also the tools, rules, procedures of the games, and proper dealer etiquette that you need to know.
Remember the role of spotting cheaters? There are techniques for this and other security aspects that you will be learning too. Depending on the course, it can run anywhere from one to several months. Some courses are better quality than others, while others have more games for you to learn.
Bear in mind that casino schools are not everywhere. You’ll mostly find them in places such as Las Vegas and other cities that are big in the industry.
Additionally, you will usually choose whether you want to learn about one game or be trained to handle multiple. Learning multiple games is always a good idea for the sake of being able to find a job and being flexible.
Some casinos offer the training themselves, with students getting the chance to be employed after. In most cases, new and expanding casinos do this.
Before you start the course, you’ll want to have good math, a positive attitude, good people skills, and excellent hand-eye coordination.
Licensing
The licensing requirements are dependent on the state. These are updated frequently, so you’ll want to see the latest rules for your location before you apply. Typically, you will need to provide several items to get approved, such as proof of identity, a background check report, and your licensing fee.
Once you meet the requirements, getting licensed usually isn’t too difficult.
Get Hired
If you were trained at one of those casinos that offers employment afterward, you could skip this step for obvious reasons. However, for others who went the typical course route and got their license, now is the time to search for a job.
During interviews, casino managers will be interested in your personality. Remember that you are applying after having gone to training school and being licensed, so there usually is little doubt that you are qualified.
However, someone who knows the principles but doesn’t have the personality will likely not be very good for business. Nevertheless, you will still likely need to demonstrate the skills you have as a dealer.
The demonstration will either take place in the actual facility or a simulated casino.
Other requirements will often include a high school diploma or GED, a clean drug test, reaching the legal age (18 years or 21 years old, depending on the state), and having no felonies or theft-related misdemeanors.
What’s the Salary Outlook?
Who doesn’t want to know what they will likely be paid before getting a job? You can check on the average base salary at any time here. That’s the best way to go about it since the figure will be updated from time to time.
Remember that it’s the average hourly payment, which is somewhere between the low and high bars. Therefore, the casino you may wish to work at may pay you much more or less than you see there.
Dealers often also get tips. It’s best not to expect them since they’re not guaranteed, so when they come, it’s like getting some extra money.
You’ll Need to Be Flexible
If you want to be a dealer, you must be flexible. Most casinos run 24/7, which means that your hours could be early, in the middle of the day, or late at night.
Wrapping Up
Being a casino dealer can be very exciting, but it’s not something you can just do out of the blue. Since the job requires you to deal with people, help with security, and have experience with casino games, you need to be trained and licensed first.
With that out of the way, you can apply for a dealer job. Just remember that you need to have the right personality and be willing to be flexible.