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Dealers


Outlook

Employment Prospects

Employers

Approximately 95,500 gaming dealers are employed in the United States. They work for casinos and other places where gaming is offered. All casinos that have table games employ dealers, so opportunities are good throughout the country wherever casinos are located.

While individuals may find employment in any casino in the world, the greatest number of positions will be located in areas where there is a large concentration of casinos. These areas include Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Chicagoland (Illinois and Indiana); Baltimore/Washington, DC; and New York City. Other regions host commercial and Native American gaming, both land-based and riverboat gaming facilities. Cruise ships offer additional opportunities.

Starting Out

Once dealers are trained, they typically get jobs in smaller, less prestigious casinos or are offered less popular shifts such as the overnight or graveyard shift to hone their skills. With some experience under their belt, dealers either search out jobs in larger, more prestigious casinos or are promoted to better shifts.

Advancement Prospects

Dealers can advance in their careers in a number of ways. After obtaining experience, individuals are often given better shifts in the casino which results in higher tips. Some dealers obtain training in other casino games to become more marketable. Others locate similar positions in larger or more prestigious casinos. This typically results in increased earnings and tips.

Some individuals may also climb the career ladder by obtaining experience and moving into supervisory or management positions such as floor persons, supervisors, or pit bosses. Many dealers choose not to take this route, because supervisory positions may not always hold the same opportunities as dealers have to earn tips.

The best way to advance your career is to get your foot in the door and then look for additional opportunities of interest to you. It is important to note, that there are no hard and fast rules for climbing the career ladder in the gaming industry. While work performance is important, advancement in many jobs, including dealing, is based on experience, education, training, employee attitude, customer service, and of course, individual career aspirations.

Many individuals who currently hold upper level management positions within casinos, started out as dealers. Casinos often offer in-house executive training programs for employees interested in climbing the career ladder by moving into higher level casino management positions. Information on opportunities such as this are generally disseminated via internal employee communications or through the human resources department.

Tips for Entry

In order to make yourself more marketable, get trained in as many casino table games as possible.

Gaming institutes and schools typically offer job placement. Check out the placement rate of various schools in your area before making a choice.

Many casinos offer in-house training programs in dealing and then hire you directly after your training has been completed. Contact casinos in your area to learn more. 

People visit casinos from all over the world. Note other languages in which you are fluent on your application or during your interview. While not required, the ability to speak a second language will often give one applicant an edge over another.

Typically, you will need to "audition" your dealing skills when being interviewed. Practice your showmanship when dealing to set yourself apart from other dealers.