Becoming a casino dealer requires some work on your part. Extensive training is required, either from a casino run program itself or through a school offering various courses about the different aspects of casino life.
In areas where casinos are prevalent, gaming programs are usually easily found and typically run for six weeks. Here, a student dealer will learn all the crucial aspects of the trade including the procedures and rules followed for various games. They will also learn both the regulations and local laws that govern them for the particular area they are in. Bear in mind, these change from city to city and state to state, so a refresher course may be needed at some point.
Once you have completed your dealer program, you will end up auditioning for a job at a local casino. Here, not only will your technical skills be scrutinized, but your personality might play a big part in landing you a job.
Tip: Personality plays an important factor in the casino environment as many establishments want someone that is not only friendly and courteous, but extremely outgoing too. Don’t forget, you need to be able to do simple math very quickly as well.
qualifications required to become a dealer.
“Candidates just need basic numeracy skills while a good attitude is essential,” she says. “They also need to have an ability to work well within a team, and of course previous experience of customer service is very useful.
“[In the UK] There is an NVQ in Gaming available but this is by no means necessary; most people in the industry have not gone down this route, as learning is primarily done ‘on the job’.
A great attitude and friendly personality is essential, as is an ability to work well within a team and think on one’s feet. Good grooming, hygiene and an attractive appearance are also highly valued as the job is customer-facing.
Basic Numeracy – Contrary to popular opinion it is not at all necessary to be a maths genius, as the skills required to add up and pay out bets are taught by formula, for example a trainee croupier would learn ‘picture bets’ , recognizing what a bet pays out by the pattern it makes on the table. However hard work is required as each trainee must learn their 8, 17 and 35 times tables!
Communication Skills – These are incredibly valuable. Croupiers are like entertainers – you need to keep gamblers involved and engaged while also handling all the action effortlessly. As a large amount of players will end up losing, it’s important for the croupier to make the experience fun for the punter.
Diplomacy Skills – Bad losers will blame “poor” dealers for a losing bet and it can be easy to be thrown off concentration. Experienced gamblers will look out for weak dealers who can be easily confused and lose focus. Therefore, a calm approach to resolutions is important, just as it is when dealing with what may be a genuine mistake.
Trustworthiness – A value well-regarded by casino employers. Records must be squeaky clean, with no prior criminal convictions. Financial backgrounds may also be checked.
