A Detailed Guide on How to Become a Casino Dealer

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 05/08/2023

Jerry Smith Staff Writer See Full Bio

Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.

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How to Become a Casino Dealer

• How Long Does it Take to Become a Casino Dealer?
• How Much Do Casino Dealers Make?
• Casino Dealer Training: What to Expect
• Essential Skills for Casino Dealers
• Obtaining Your Casino Dealer License
• Finding the Perfect Casino Dealer Job
• Advancing Your Career as a Casino Dealer
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a fascination with the fast-paced world of casinos and are looking for instructions on how to jumpstart your dream career as a casino dealer, look no further. This page on how to become a casino dealer will show you exactly what steps you need to take to join this exciting world! Whether you’re simply intrigued by this fascinating industry or actively seeking a new professional chapter, this guide has got all your bases covered.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Casino Dealer?

How long does it take to become a casino dealer? The time it takes to become a casino dealer largely depends on one’s location and the required qualifications. In most casinos, training may take anywhere between two weeks and four months. Aspiring dealers must master various skills such as dealing proficiency, customer service, and casino policies and procedures.

To become an expert in card games such as blackjack or poker, it is vital to study hand rankings and betting strategies. You also need to learn how to shuffle and deal cards quickly with precision. Part of learning how to be a good casino dealer is being able to think quickly – and you need to understand the ins and outs of games you’ll be dealing so you are able to do so.

Since this is a competitive industry, dealers are advised to have excellent problem-solving skills, since they could encounter accidental mistakes resulting from players’ misunderstandings of game rules.

How Much Do Casino Dealers Make?

How much do casino dealers make? The exact amount a casino dealer can earn in the United States is determined by numerous factors, including experience, the location and size of the casino, and prior levels of education and training.

However, according to current industry statistics published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2019, the median hourly wage for gaming dealers across all states was $12.94 per hour. This implies that half earn more than this figure while others receive less. The lowest 10% earned less than $9.17/hour whereas 50% received between $9.27/hour and about $16.75/hour. Many earn just above that, and the top gaming dealers earn over $22 an hour.

The earnings accrued from tips further increase these base salaries, so that experienced dealers who provide a quality service within limit rooms or luxury casinos could potentially take home tens or even hundreds of thousands each year. However, like the players themselves, dealers rely on luck; they are usually only tipped well if the player is winning.

It’s also worth noting that some casinos pay their dealers on a commission basis rather than an hourly rate. This can significantly boost wages beyond the national benchmarks we looked at earlier, although it can, of course, go both ways.

Casino Dealer Training: What to Expect

If you’ve decided you want to become a casino dealer, you’ll need to enroll in a casino school. These training programs teach potential new hires both theoretical classes and comprehensive hands-on practical sessions. During these sessions, students learn everything they need to know about dealing casino games. There’s a lot to cover, and these schools are often pretty intense.

Teachers screen trainees in specific areas like table layouts so that they will get used to handling different pot sizes while delivering proper customer service. You will play live casino games in a simulated environment, and the teachers will monitor all areas of your performance.

Expect your trainers also to observe your dealing etiquette (e.g., keeping your eyes on the deuce continuously), quick math (pot calculations) when applicable, and your level of confidence when awarding payouts.

Through regular practice combined with frequent feedback, you’ll be surprised how quickly you pick up the art of casino dealing – but it’s not an overnight profession to learn, and you can expect to spend a minimum of four weeks training, and usually six or eight.

Essential Skills for Casino Dealers

In a casino’s fast-paced and high-pressure environment, being a successful dealer requires a range of essential skills beyond simply understanding the games themselves. Firstly, dealers must have strong customer service and communication abilities to interact effectively with players from different backgrounds and personalities, maintaining professionalism even in cases of difficult or disruptive behavior.

Secondly, they need to have excellent math skills to quickly calculate payouts and ensure each bet is accurately accounted for, and winnings paid. Moreover, perfect coordination is key; dealers must simultaneously manage running the game, while keeping an eye on players, and dealing with any questions or problems that players encounter.

If you want to know how to be a good casino dealer, then you’ll also need to develop quick reflexes to keep games running fluidly. Another useful skill is being good at listening, ensuring all players feel heard and making sure they’re not ignored if asking questions.

Obtaining Your Casino Dealer License

To get a croupier license in the USA, an applicant must decide what state they’re planning to work in. This is because every state has different rules and regulations. The specific requirements for applying for a license vary depending on the state; however, usually, they involve a background check and completion of a training program.

Some states require applicants to have a degree or higher education, while others only require a high school diploma. Some of the strictest states even require applicants to give their fingerprints and take a drug test!

Those who meet the necessary qualifications will need to submit an application and pay any associated fees. From there, they may need to take an exam to demonstrate their knowledge and skills related to dealing specific games such as blackjack or poker. This is why it’s so important to properly research what skills are needed to become a dealer; it’s not as easy as you may think!

Finding the Perfect Casino Dealer Job

Once a student has been awarded their casino license, it’s time for them to start job hunting! However, most applicants don’t realize that there are loads of factors to take into account. Not all dealing jobs are the same, and what might look like small differences can have a big impact on the job itself.

For example, one applicant might want to look for job openings at high-end resort casinos – they often pay better and provide healthcare plans. On the other hand, some applicants will prefer to work for a small, family-run casino that has more of a personal touch.

Networking with industry peers can be helpful in finding job opportunities that fit one’s skill set and preferences. Another approach is to conduct research online or through professional associations that represent casino workers such as the National Indian Gaming Association.

By being proactive and persistent in pursuing employment opportunities within this exciting field, prospective casino workers can find themselves well on their way toward building fulfilling careers at casinos across the USA. The bigger the casino, the more staff they need – so check out the list of the five biggest casinos in the USA, below for ideas!

Advancing Your Career as a Casino Dealer

Casino dealers often want to advance their careers; this can be achieved by acquiring knowledge of new games and improving skills. A good way to accomplish this is to consistently practice dealing games – even basic ones, like blackjack or baccarat. It’s also possible to take specialized courses or obtain certifications in specific areas of gaming like poker.

In recent years, land-based croupiers have started asking how to be an online casino dealer. While it may sound like a good career path, the reality is, those dealing live dealer games for online casinos are usually paid a lot less than their land-based counterparts. They rarely get tipped, and working conditions are often reported to be harsh.

Another avenue for career development is pursuing leadership roles within the casino hierarchy. Dealers who exhibit an outstanding work ethic could eventually be promoted into supervisory positions overseeing other employees’ performances on the floor.