Casino Dealer: Salary and Career Facts
Explore the career requirements for casino dealers. Get the facts about job duties, education requirements, job outlook and salary to determine if this is the right career for you.
What Is a Casino Dealer?
Casino dealers work as game operators in casinos. They operate games such as craps, blackjack, or roulette. Their duties usually involve dealing cards, announcing each player's move, and determining winners and paying off bets. They also let players know the rules of the table, keep track of money, and inspect cards and dice. They are often required to be able to work at least two different games. Read the table below for a snapshot overview of this career field.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>High school diploma or equivalent</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Training Required</b> </td><td> Training is required; varies by location</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Responsibilities</b></td><td>Inform players of game rules, operate a game table or station, distribute gaming materials</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Licensure Required</b></td><td>Licensure is required; varies by state</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td>24%*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$ 23,740*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreTheDutiesOfACasinoDealer">What Are The Duties of a Casino Dealer?</h3><p>With legalized gambling growing in numerous parts of the U.S., there are various gaming services occupations within this industry. One of these jobs is a casino dealer. As a dealer, you'll play a fundamental role in ensuring gamers have an enjoyable time while they play by the gaming rules established at your casino.
</p><p>While casino dealer is typically an occupation of someone who administers card games, the term also applies to other games such as craps, which uses dice, and roulette, which utilizes a spinning wheel. As a casino dealer, you'll be in charge of operating a table or game station by yourself or with other dealers. You'll distribute materials needed for the game, collect losing bets, determine the winning paying outs and answer questions on how the game is played.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreMyRequirementsForThisJob">What Are My Requirements For This Job?</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), you can usually get a job without a specific level of education, but a high school diploma or equivalent is preferred (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). Many dealers are trained at dealer schools where they learn the various games as well as the legal aspects of working in the gaming industry.
</p><p>Many casinos, however, provide their own training and prefer to hire dealers from within or re-train experienced dealers to their requirements. You'll have to demonstrate your level of dealer expertise during an audition before you're hired. Once hired, you'll need to obtain a gaming license from a regulatory agency, such as a state board or commission, before you'll be able to work as a casino dealer.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSkillsWillHelpMeBeSuccessful"> What Skills Will Help Me Be Successful?</h3><p>Working as a casino dealer requires several skills. They include customer service, math and communication skills, along with a strong attention to detail. You'll also need to be personable and patient to handle a variety of gamers you will encounter.
</p><h3 id="section---HowCanIAdvanceWithThisCareer">How Can I Advance With This Career?</h3><p>You'll find various advancement opportunities in the growing gaming industry. With experience, some of the jobs you can advance to include floor manager, box person, gaming manager and gaming supervisor. Also, you may develop an interest to enter into hotel management positions.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSTheJobOutlook">What's the Job Outlook?</h3><p>According to the BLS, jobs for gaming dealers may grow by 24% between 2020 and 2030. Your salary will depend on where you're employed, but the BLS reported that the median annual wage for gaming dealers was $23,740 in May 2020.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>Those interested in becoming a casino dealer may also want to investigate some alternative careers which require a similar level of formal education. Lodging managers work in hotels and motels to make sure that guests have a good experience at the establishment. Lodging managers require a high school diploma and related experience and may be sometimes required to have a bachelor's degree. Customer service representatives are required to have a high school diploma and some on-the-job training. They work in a variety of settings to provide information to customers, deal with complaints, and process transactions.</p>