The casino is all about bets, and we’ll bet that you have a pretty good idea of what goes on in these esteemed establishments. Whether this is derived from your own experience attending a casino hall, or from what you’ve seen on the big screen in blockbuster movies.
But, we’ll raise our bet, on the fact that you probably don’t know much about the life of a casino dealer, since we’re usually too focused upon the game itself, or the players, to pay attention to the dealer.
Without the dealer, your favourite table games would not be able to run seamlessly, in fact they wouldn’t run at all. The role of the dealer has evolved significantly over the years and now, with online live casino games, you’ll be greeted by a real-life dealer, who will enable you to have an immersive gaming experience from the comfort of your own home.
In this article, we will take you on a journey from online to land-based casinos, as we expose the life of a professional casino dealer in the most iconic gambling city in the world, Las Vegas.
Where the dealer’s journey begins?
Although it appears to be shrouded by glitz and glamour, the casino dealer’s journey starts like most careers, at the beginning of the ladder. To become a professional dealer, it takes more than just charisma and card skills. Croupiers have to undergo rigorous training, to gain relevant qualifications.
There are numerous gaming academies which aspiring dealers can attend to learn their craft. At a gaming academy you would learn everything that you need to know to become a professional croupier, from dealing cards, to learning the fundamental rules of the games and gambling laws.
Though qualifications are required to become a professional dealer, there are other essential skills and attributes that you must possess, which can’t be learnt in the classroom. You must be personable, have excellent communication skills and not be afraid to take charge. Only the best dealers will make it in Las Vegas’ biggest and best casinos, so you have to have something that sets you apart from the rest.
It may look easy – but it’s not
What’s most impressive about professional dealers? Well, aside from the fact that they scrub up well, it’s the fact that they make what they do look effortless. Whilst on the surface it may just look like shuffling of cards and counting of chips, the dealer is making mathematical calculations and having to make quick decisions, all whilst controlling a group of people, who can be unruly.
To be a dealer, you’ve got to be pretty good at mathematics. Why, you might ask? Well, at the end of each hand the croupier has to accurately work out how much money is owed to each player. Get it wrong and we’re pretty sure that they’d have some angry players to deal with.
Which brings us to our next point. Dealing may seem like a casino player’s dream job, but it’s not all plain sailing. The dealer is under immense pressure to get everything right – if they don’t people are going to lose their patience, but more seriously, they could lose their money.
Dealing is also pretty tiring. For the majority of table games, they are required to stand at the table for the whole duration of the games. Like any job, the croupier does have breaks, which are typically on an hourly basis, however, the job can be physically, emotionally and mentally draining, since there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.
The salary
It’s difficult to determine how much each individual dealer earns, since they aren’t only paid by the establishment at which they are employed. Many dealers are paid an hourly rate, but will also receive tips. The salary of a Vegas dealer therefore varies greatly, and can range from $10,000 to $60,000 per year (excluding tips).
It’s a common misconception that a Vegas dealer receives more in tips than those dealing at smaller establishments in less esteemed gambling cities. However, it doesn’t matter how hefty the bank balances of the players are, if they don’t like you, they won’t tip you, it’s as simple as that.
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So, now you know a bit more about the life of a casino dealer, do you think you’ve got what it takes to be a Sin City croupier, or are you happy standing at the player’s side of the table?
