- Floyd Mayweather Trusts LeBron. Why not start off with the 'Money' Man himself, Floyd.
- June 30, 2012 at 2:23 PM CDT - Updated June 27 at 9:56 AM. By Mark Clements LSU Student. Shuffle up and deal. That's a phrase often easier said than done - at least correctly.
- Q: Why isn't gambling allowed in Africa? A: Because of all the Cheetahs Q: What kind of shark is always gambling? A: A CardShark Q: What do craps dealers eat for dessert? A: Dice pudding Q. How's a casino like a good woman? Liquor in the front, poker in the back! What's the difference between prayer in church and prayer in a casino?
Have you ever considered being a casino dealer? The job might look like fun. Playing cards all day while talking with players! Of course, it's not quite that easy and those same players (you) can be a pain in the neck from time to time. Then again, no service-industry job doesn't have some drawbacks.
No industry is recession-proof, but casino jobs keep opening up because new casinos are still being built. And, there are reasons you might want to work at a casino.
Top Ten Reasons to be a Casino Dealer
- Pay. Dealers can make as much as $100,000 per year. The average dealing job at a small casino only pays half that much, but many do pay more than $25 per hour. That's a pretty good starting pay, right?
- Minimum Education Needed. As little as two weeks of training may be all that is required. Some casinos offer in-house training to existing employees for dealer positions. Other properties hire experienced dealers and/or those who have successfully graduated from a dealing school. Fees for dealing schools typically run $500 to learn blackjack and slightly more for complicated games like craps and roulette.
- Benefits. Many casinos are part of very large corporations, and they offer excellent benefits. Bonuses and 401K match programs are second only to medical benefits. Many casinos also offer tuition reimbursement for job-related college classes. Ask at the Human Resources department to find out about everything that's offered.
- Working Conditions. Although many casinos still allow smoking, most dealers find that the working conditions and perks are excellent. Good ventilation, good lighting, and a clean environment are standard. Employee dining rooms can rival nice restaurants, and some properties, like the Wynn in Las Vegas, offer dining that is off the charts. Some employee dining rooms are free, others offer meals for as little as a dollar or two.
- Scheduling. Most casinos offer 24-hour gaming, so dealers can work any shift. Time-off is usually easy to get, and an early-out to accommodate an emergency is often available.
- Tips. A dealer's pay is based heavily on tips. At a go for your own casino, dealers keep their own tips and have a huge impact on how much they earn. The harder they work at being friendly and taking care of their guests, the more they will earn. At a split-joint, all tips are pooled and shared between dealers, based on how many hours are worked.
- Breaks. Most dealers work an hour and a half and then get a half-hour break. That means the total hours actually worked during an 8-hour shift is really just 6 hours!
- Flexible Personal Time Off. More and more properties are offering personal time off instead of vacations. Dealers earn a few hours of paid time off each week and can schedule their own days off or vacations in advance.
- Comradery. Dealing makes for good stories and personal experiences. There is plenty of time to chat with fellow employees when you get two hours of breaks every day!
- Mobility and Transfers. Many casino properties allow dealers to move from one company-owned property to another, as the need arises - even to different states. Casinos also offer a wide variety of jobs and experienced dealers are qualified for many of them, even if they stay in the department and take a job as a Pit Boss.
There are other reasons that a casino dealer job is a perfect fit for people whether they are looking for a part-time or temporary job while going to college, or want to land a permanent position. Dealing isn't for everyone, but many people find the job fun and exciting and make a career of it.
No matter what your abilities, there are a lot of different casino jobs.
It's good to have someone on the inside. At the very least, it can make for some interesting stories.
A flatmate was a dealer at a casino, comes home and tells me the story, her last gambler left her table so she was about to close out. Guy comes and sits down and wants to play all the hands at the table. 100 a hand does that few abut half an hour, asks for the table limit to be raised to 1k a hand. On-the-Job: Casino Gaming Expert. Max Rubin was involved with the gaming industry in Las Vegas for more than thirty-five years. He was a dealer, pit boss, and shift manager at some of the best casinos in Vegas. Over the years Max worked his way up to the top job of casino manager, where he was in charge of overall operations.
Casinos are a place unlike any other. Dreams come to life, and die, on a near-hourly basis and the employees of 'the house' have a front row seat to it all. When they open up about their experiences, it's always worth a listen.
Unsurprisingly, the behind-the-scenes perspective is fascinating. Casinos aren't necessarily shrouded in secrecy, but most gamblers know there's things they don't know about the operation.
In this article, I'll lay out 10 things casino workers have said about their unique jobs.
1 – Casinos Are Dirty
They might look clean and shiny, but most casino floors are covered in germs, grime, and…much worse than that.
One of the worst situations, although not uncommon, is the mess left on some of the slot machine chairs. I'll let your mind assume what I mean by that.
Players who are having success don't want to get up and relieve themselves in the restroom, and the casino's furniture is often the victim in these scenarios. One casino worker for the Mohegan Sun even said that the casino had to assemble an environmental services team to handle the chairs and make sure they got deep cleaned.
2 – Dealing Cards Can Be Dangerous
When people are playing around with life-changing money, emotions are understandably running high. That can make dealing a much more perilous job than it should be.
While this might not be typical, it certainly isn't unheard of in the industry.
3 – You Never Know What to Expect
Casino christmas party edinburgh. On the list of things that humans commonly fear, my guess is that snakes would make the top 10 (maybe top five…top three?). One casino dealer got up close and personal with a serpent when he least expected.
While working as a dealer at a Las Vegas Casino, he observed a man at the blackjack table slowly removing his jacket. While others at the table might have been thinking, 'Oh, here we go again,' there was another surprise in store.
Out from under his jacket slithered a three foot snake, complete with a flickering forked tongue.
Needless to say the man and his 'pet' were removed from the premises immediately by casino security. However, he did provide several people with a great story to tell during the next friendly poker night.
4 – The Consequences of Losing Can Be Serious
For the majority of gamblers, a bad day on the casino floor can be cured by a few drinks and a good meal. That is, if you bet responsibly.
The unfortunate reality is that some people suffer from a compulsion that makes gambling a life or death proposition. It's sad, but not uncommon for dealers to witness some pretty harrowing reactions to significant losses.
One anonymous casino worker in Vegas witnessed an off-duty police officer promptly take his life…at the table…after losing his life's savings in a high-limit poker game. This reaction is an all-too-common thing that is a reminder of the internal battles some people are fighting.
5 – Casinos Aren't in the Caring Business
I wouldn't go as far as to say casino owners or managers aren't good, caring people, but during their time at work they aren't looking to help anyone out. Regardless of how much money you've lost, the general attitude is that as long as you bet your money willingly, it's on you to deal with consequences.
If you guessed, 'Not our problem,' you are right. The casino worker ended up finding the number for the Korean embassy and put the losing gambler in contact with that office, but that was all he could do given the circumstances.
6 – The Range of People is Fascinating
Going to the casino for an afternoon guarantees an unparalleled people-watching experience. If there's one thing that people from all walks of life can agree on, it's that gambling is fun no matter what your financial or social status.
A particular Vegas dealer explained how his nightly clientele always ensured there was never a dull moment. He describes his experiences as dealing with a Saudi prince during one hour, Jay-Z the next, and then dealing to a semi-homeless guy later on in the evening.
It's hard to picture any other place in the world where these three types of people could all be enjoying the same thing. For that reason, casinos will always hold a special place in the hearts of thrill-seekers and those who simply want to observe the human experience.
7 – High-Rollers Get It All
To regular folks, it might feel like the rich can do anything they want without facing real consequences. Nowhere is this more accurate than at the casino.
While this behavior might get most people kicked out, it simply goes unpunished when the casino has a vested interest in keeping someone happy. Rather than being escorted out, they're offered free rooms, meals, and just about any other casino comp necessary to keep them gambling.
8 – Yes, the Workers are Judging You
One dealer who spent several years working at a top London casino explained that there is plenty to be learned from watching people lose. Most notably, their change in demeanor.
He explained that it was often the people who were the nicest when they sat down who would turn into the most moody, withdrawn, and quite frankly, dark people when they began to lose.
His takeaway? It's important to be the same person regardless of your own personal success. Changing your personality based on your circumstances shows a selfishness that is best avoided.
9 – Not All the Winners are Gamblers
Worst Casino Stories
Women, booze, and gambling go together like fireworks, booze, and apple pie on July 4th – meaning it's a fun, but often has serious pitfalls. For many male gamblers, this can mean being taken advantage of.
One casino worker, again in Vegas, noted that it was fairly common for 'working girls' to seek out players who had a successful day on the floor. After identifying these individuals, they would get them very drunk at the bar to celebrate their success. Next, they would escort them back to their rooms where they would…often pass out.
When the men would pass out, the women would make off with thousands of dollars that their man had won that day. I guess when you really think about it, is it still stealing if the money wasn't really earned?
10 – At the End of the Day, They're Babysitters
Dealers have a lot to keep in mind while they're on the job. They must be able to spot cheaters, keep players' emotions under control, and still execute the job they're getting paid to do.
Funny Casino Stories
While some of the things on this list might have been surprising, the things dealers hate is probably the least surprising of all.
Conclusion
Casinos are treasures of humanity. Nothing brings out someone's true colors like losing (or winning) thousands of dollars from playing a game.
At the end of the day, it's fair to say casino workers don't get nearly enough credit, or compensation, to justify the duties they're asked to perform on a nightly basis.
The next time you go to gamble, say thanks to your casino's staff – or better yet, throw a few extra dollars their way.
