Casino and Hotel Management Jobs: What Are My Career Options?

<p>Hotel and casino managers oversee the operation of hotels and casinos. There are a number of career options within this field, including a career as a hotel manager or a career as a gaming manager. Hotel managers are responsible for the day to day operation of hotels, including welcoming guests, making sure the hotel is running properly, and managing staff. As a gaming manager, you would be in charge of supervising various games on the casino floor and making sure employees and guests are abiding by the casino rules. The following table gives you an overview of what you need to know about entering this field. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th> Hotel Managers </th><th> Gaming Managers</th></tr> <tr><td> <b>Education Required</b> </td><td> High school diploma or equivalent; larger operations prefer managers with a bachelor's degree or higher </td><td> High school diploma or equivalent; associate or bachelor's degree required by some casinos</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Training Required</b> </td><td> On-the-job experience in hotels </td><td> On-the-job experience in gaming establishments</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Licensure/Certification</b></td><td> Voluntary certification available </td><td> Gaming industry workers need licensure</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Job Responsibilities</b> </td><td> Oversee all hotel operations </td><td> Oversee casino operations</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Job Outlook (2020-2030)</b> </td><td>9% for all lodging managers* </td><td> 20% for all gambling managers*</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Average Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $65,270* </td><td> $85,440*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatWouldMyResponsibilitiesBeInACasinoAndHotelManagementJob">What Would My Responsibilities Be in a Casino and Hotel Management Job?</h3> <p>Hotel general managers oversee all of the operations of a hotel. In a small hotel, the general manager may be the only full time employee; whereas, a general manager of a large hotel could oversee a 500 person staff. </p> <p>Gaming managers oversee the daily operations of a casino. Your duties could include staffing, scheduling and resolving any major problems with staff or patrons. Gaming manager positions are limited to areas where casinos are legally permitted. In addition to select cities, you may find casinos on riverboats and Native American reservations. </p> <p>In large hotels or casino resorts, there are often many managers. These positions can sometimes be attained through promotions from entry-level positions while others positions require specialized training or certification. </p> <p>Here are a few of your options, along with the major responsibilities of the position. Assistant managers serve as second in charge to the hotel manager or gaming manager and often have similar qualifications and responsibilities. </p> <p>Revenue managers oversee accounting, hotel occupancy forecasting, room pricing and preparing the payroll. Food and beverage managers direct the chefs and front-of-the-house managers of on-site restaurants, banquets and lounges. Convention service managers coordinate the efforts of multiple managers and teams to orchestrate large events. Front office managers lead and train the front desk staff. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheRequirements">What Are the Requirements?</h3> <p>Qualifications may vary depending on the specific hotel and its needs. Large hotels typically prefer you to have a bachelor's or master's degree in hospitality management or a related discipline. Smaller hotels may hire you if you have a certificate or associate's degree from an institution with programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration. You may obtain a position in management without a college coursework if you have experience in the hotel industry. </p> <p>Some casinos may require you to have an associate's or bachelor's degree. However, an employer may hire you if you have specialized experience in the gaming industry. Managers often have backgrounds as pit bosses, slot key men or dealers. You must be knowledgeable of the games, regulations and rules of the industry. In addition, you must be licensed. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatWouldIMake">What Would I Make?</h3> <p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that hotel managers earned an average annual salary of $65,270 in 2020. The BLS also predicted that jobs for hotel managers would grow by nine percent over the decade 2020-2030. </p> <p>According to the BLS, in 2020 gambling managers earned an average annual salary of $85,440. The number of gambling manager positions was projected to increase by 20% from 2020-2030. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3> <p>You may also be interested in a career as a food service manager, which only requires a high school diploma. These professionals make sure that customers are pleased with their dining experience at restaurants, hotels, resorts, and other dining establishments. You may also be interested in a job as a human resources manager, which generally requires a bachelor's degree. In this career, you would be responsible for planning and coordinating administrative duties in a company or organization, like recruiting and interviewing new employees, dealing with workplace conflict, and scheduling regular employee training.</p>