Casino game dealer salary
New casino sites to play real money
If you’re lucky enough to be working at high limit tables at a large casino, you might even be able to pull down $100,000 a year dealing cards. Poker dealers tend to make the most money, and $50/hour in tips isn’t that unusual. But if you’re reading this blog, you’re probably interested in playing casino games for money. Being a card dealer gives you a chance to play cards (sort of) and get paid for it.
How much do card dealers make?
I’ve often pointed out that the people making money in the gambling industry are the casinos, not the players. If you want to guarantee yourself a living in the gambling industry, the obvious way to do so is to own a casino. But not everyone can own a casino.
Working for the casino might be your next best bet.
But how much do card dealers make?
That’s not the only career available in the casino, of course.
But if you’re reading this blog, you’re probably interested in playing casino games for money. Being a card dealer gives you a chance to play cards (sort of) and get paid for it.
This post outlines what a career as a casino dealer entails and how much money you can make dealing cards games like blackjack and poker.
How being a card dealer works
The dealers at the casinos are employees. They get paid an hourly wage. They don’t get a percentage of the casino’s winnings.
But they do get tips – at least in the united states.
Their job is to keep the card games running smoothly. One of the biggest factors affecting a casino’s profitability is how fast the games move. More hands dealt per hour means more revenue for the casino. Smart casino managers know this and manage their dealers accordingly.
What do you do as the card dealer?
Basically, you’re in charge of hosting the game. You deal the cards. You exchange money for chips. In the case of poker games, you take the rake out of the pot and make sure the blinds are posted. In the case of casino games like blackjack or caribbean stud, you take the bets when players lose. You also pay off the players when they win.
Most casino dealers learn blackjack before learning any other game – at least in the united states. In europe, roulette is the most popular table game, so most dealers learn that game first. Casinos don’t make a distinction between card dealers and dealers who run other table games like craps and roulette.
Craps is almost always the last game a dealer learns to conduct. The game has complicated payouts, lots of bets, and plenty of fast-moving action that might be too much for a novice to handle.
You’re also required to get a gambling license. This is a lot like many jurisdictions’ requirements that you have a food handler’s permit if you’re going to work in a restaurant. A criminal background check is part of this process. A credit check is also common.
You will not be allowed to deal a game in a casino until you have this license. Legitimate casinos take this requirement seriously. Failure to comply can result in lost profits, so they take it seriously.
How much is the average salary for a casino dealer?
Casino dealers are usually hourly employees, rather than salaried employees. The difference is that salaried employees get a guaranteed amount per week, regardless of hours worked. Salaried employees don’t have to punch a time clock.
Hourly employees, on the other hand, get paid for the hours they work. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. This doesn’t mean you don’t get paid sick leave or vacation time. You might or might not.
The average casino dealer is paid between $8/hour and $10/hour to start. Assuming a 40-hour work week, that means you’re looking at between $320 and $400 per week in earnings.
That’s not a lot of money, by the way. That’s a little less than $17,000 a year on the low end and a little over $20,000 a year on the high end.
But that amount doesn’t account for tips, either. Like many service industry professionals, card dealers depend on tips to make ends meet. A good dealer with a good personality can make significantly more money when factoring in gratuities.
In fact, many casino dealers make more money from their tips than from their hourly wages. On the low end, casino dealers are probably looking at an extra $6 or $7 per hour in tips, making their annual earnings look more like $30,000 a year.
You won’t get rich making $30,000 a year, but you can make a living on that.
Dealing at bigger casinos with higher limit tables can result in more tips. $15 to $20 per hour in tips isn’t unheard of, and when you start getting into those numbers, you’re looking at $60,000 a year in earnings.
If you’re lucky enough to be working at high limit tables at a large casino, you might even be able to pull down $100,000 a year dealing cards. Poker dealers tend to make the most money, and $50/hour in tips isn’t that unusual.
But the big numbers are the exception, not the rule. It’s also roughly where you can expect your earnings to top out as a dealer.
What you can realistically expect to make as a card dealer
Being a card dealer at a casino is like any other profession. Your earnings grow as you gain experience. Expect to start at the lower end of the numbers I mentioned when you’re starting.
Also, it will probably take at least 2 months to become fully trained. You can’t expect to make tip money during your training period – at least not for all of it.
In some locations, you can’t realistically expect to get a job as a card dealer without attending some classes at a dealer school, too. That costs money in tuition. And you’re not earning money when you’re attending school. You can expect to spend 100 hours learning your trade in a dealer school.
You should also keep in mind that you might not even be able to work a full 40 hours a week. The casino industry is notoriously seasonal. Casinos don’t pay dealers to sit around waiting for players – not if they can help it, anyway.
Your personality plays a big role in determining your earnings, too. Players are more likely to tip dealers they like.
I was playing texas holdem at the stardust a few years ago. At one point, I pushed my chips all-in and announced, “carpe diem.”
The dealer was a stern bald man with a russian accent who immediately corrected me, “english only at the table, sir.”
Sheepishly, I explained to him and everyone at the table that the phrase meant “seize the day”.
The dealer replied, “I KNOW what it means, sir. You could be signaling another player by speaking in a foreign language, though.”
I replied, “couldn’t I be signaling another player by saying ‘seize the day’ in english?”
Maybe he was having a bad day, but guess how much money I tipped him when I won the pot?
I shared that story over breakfast with a professional poker player who was outraged. He told me I should have complained to the card room manager and tried to get the dealer fired.
I didn’t think that was necessary, but I wasn’t going to tip someone who’d been rude to me.
Keep that in mind if you get a job as a dealer. Yes, you’re there to enforce the rules.
But it won’t kill you to do so diplomatically.
And you’ll make more money if you anger fewer players.
Pros and cons of being a casino dealer
The pros of this profession are obvious to anyone who loves gambling. You get to work in a casino and be around gamblers all day. And you get paid for it.
You can even get paid well for it, especially if you have a good personality and know how to get along with people.
You’ll get to meet lots of new people on a regular basis. You’ll also be exposed enough to the realities of casino gambling that you’ll probably never make a negative expectation bet again.
On the other hand, players who are losing can be rude and even cruel. Money is the great magnifier in this instance. Dealing with the public always means dealing with potentially cruel or rude customers. But when a lot of money is on the line, the public intensifies their usual tendencies.
Also, casinos usually serve free drinks, so you’ll probably encounter plenty of drunks.
If you’re a woman, you can expect to get plenty of unwelcome attention from sober and drunk males alike. Having a thick skin and the ability to gracefully turn down such advances is a worthwhile skill to develop.
Many casinos and poker rooms still allow cigarette smoking on the premises. If you’re concerned about second-hand smoke, being a casino dealer might not be the ideal career for you. According to the CDC more likely to develop respiratory illnesses, casino dealers are than the general population.
For an interesting perspective on being a blackjack dealer in vegas, read this post. The young woman there works for a casino as a dealer in the party pit, which means she wears lingerie while dealing. Imagine the kind of attention she gets.
She explains that beginning dealers are on a 3-month probation period and don’t get employee benefits until they’ve been working at the casino for 6 months. The only item I disagree with in her post was her claim that the dealer will never give you wrong advice about how to play your hand.
I’m not convinced that all blackjack dealers in las vegas know basic strategy well enough to avoid giving incorrect advice at least occasionally.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career as a dealer in a casino is an affordable alternative to other ways of making money in the casino industry. If you don’t have the bankroll or temperament to be an advantage player, playing on behalf of the house is one way to make money. Opening your own casino isn’t an option for most gamblers, either.
How much do card dealers make?
It’s all over the place. Beginners at small casinos start out making $17,000 a year, which isn’t much.
But it shouldn’t take too much effort, education, and know-how to get up to $30,000 a year within a few months.
And if you’re dedicated to your craft and a people person, you could be making $100,000 a year or more within a couple of years.
Drawbacks include having to deal with obnoxious casino customers, the anger of players on losing streaks, and – in some cases – second-hand smoke.
I’ll leave it up to you to decide if the pros outweigh the cons.
You can read more about working as a dealer at a casino in some of our other blog posts. This post about careers in the gambling industry explains some of the opportunities you might pursue beyond dealing cards. The ultimate guide to gambling careers lists 19 jobs you might be interested in at the casino.
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. Schools offering hotel & restaurant management degrees can also be found in these popular choices .
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.
| Degree required | high school diploma or equivalent |
| training required | training is required; varies by location |
| key responsibilities | inform players of game rules, operate a game table or station, distribute gaming materials |
| licensure required | licensure is required; varies by state |
| job growth (2018-2028) | 1%* |
| median salary (2018) | $20,040* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of labor statistics
What are the duties of a casino dealer?
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.
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.
What are my requirements for this job?
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 (www.Bls.Gov). 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.
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.
What skills will help me be successful?
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.
How can I advance with this career?
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.
What's the job outlook?
According to the BLS, jobs for gaming dealers may grow by 4% between 2018 and 2028. Your salary will depend on where you're employed, but the BLS reported that the median annual wage for gaming dealers was $20,120 in may 2018.
What are some related alternative careers?
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.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
Croupier / casino dealer
Candidates for positions of casino dealers (croupiers) must hold a certificate from a casino school or at least 2 years experience of the same position with a good knowledge of at least 2 games (blackjack, poker, craps, baccarat or roulette).
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Top ten reasons to be a casino dealer
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Have you ever considered being a casino dealer? The job might look like fun. Playing cards all day while talking with players! Of course, it's not quite that easy and those same players (you) can be a pain in the neck from time to time. Then again, no service-industry job doesn't have some drawbacks.
No industry is recession-proof, but casino jobs keep opening up because new casinos are still being built. And, there are reasons you might want to work at a casino.
Top ten reasons to be a casino dealer
- Pay. Dealers can make as much as $100,000 per year. The average dealing job at a small casino only pays half that much, but many do pay more than $25 per hour. That's a pretty good starting pay, right?
- Minimum education needed. As little as two weeks of training may be all that is required. Some casinos offer in-house training to existing employees for dealer positions. Other properties hire experienced dealers and/or those who have successfully graduated from a dealing school. Fees for dealing schools typically run $500 to learn blackjack and slightly more for complicated games like craps and roulette.
- Benefits. Many casinos are part of very large corporations, and they offer excellent benefits. Bonuses and 401K match programs are second only to medical benefits. Many casinos also offer tuition reimbursement for job-related college classes. Ask at the human resources department to find out about everything that's offered.
- Working conditions. Although many casinos still allow smoking, most dealers find that the working conditions and perks are excellent. Good ventilation, good lighting, and a clean environment are standard. Employee dining rooms can rival nice restaurants, and some properties, like the wynn in las vegas, offer dining that is off the charts. Some employee dining rooms are free, others offer meals for as little as a dollar or two.
- Scheduling. Most casinos offer 24-hour gaming, so dealers can work any shift. Time-off is usually easy to get, and an early-out to accommodate an emergency is often available.
- Tips. A dealer's pay is based heavily on tips. At a go for your own casino, dealers keep their own tips and have a huge impact on how much they earn. The harder they work at being friendly and taking care of their guests, the more they will earn. At a split-joint, all tips are pooled and shared between dealers, based on how many hours are worked.
- Breaks. Most dealers work an hour and a half and then get a half-hour break. That means the total hours actually worked during an 8-hour shift is really just 6 hours!
- Flexible personal time off. More and more properties are offering personal time off instead of vacations. Dealers earn a few hours of paid time off each week and can schedule their own days off or vacations in advance.
- Comradery. Dealing makes for good stories and personal experiences. There is plenty of time to chat with fellow employees when you get two hours of breaks every day!
- Mobility and transfers. Many casino properties allow dealers to move from one company-owned property to another, as the need arises - even to different states. Casinos also offer a wide variety of jobs and experienced dealers are qualified for many of them, even if they stay in the department and take a job as a pit boss.
There are other reasons that a casino dealer job is a perfect fit for people whether they are looking for a part-time or temporary job while going to college, or want to land a permanent position. Dealing isn't for everyone, but many people find the job fun and exciting and make a career of it.
No matter what your abilities, there are a lot of different casino jobs.
Casino occupations salary canada
Average casino occupation’s salary in canada
The table below details the hourly wages for casino occupations.
The canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 6533.
Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are: croupier, casino gambling dealer, keno dealer, slot machine attendant and gambling table operator.
According to the latest figures, the highest hourly average wages are earned in montreal, quebec at $23.63 per hour and the lowest average wages are earned in halifax – nova scotia at $15.00 per hour.
A typical full-time annual salary for this occupation is in the region of $30,000 – $45,000.
Government labour market data indicates that the number of job seekers will continue to be more than sufficient to fill the job vacancies in this profession for the near future. Jobs in this occupation may pay at the minimum wage rates.
Average hourly wages for casino occupations in canada
| location | low wage $ per hr | average wage $ per hr | high wage $ per hr | year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| calgary – alberta* (1) | – | 13.96 | – | 2017 |
| edmonton – alberta* (1) | – | 13.96 | – | 2017 |
| vancouver / lower mainland southwest – british columbia | 11.35 | 18.50 | 20.95 | 2016 |
| winnipeg – manitoba | 14.66 | 16.97 | 25.14 | 2014 |
| fredericton / oromocto – new brunswick | – | – | – | – |
| halifax – nova scotia | 10.40 | 15.00 | 25.00 | 2013 |
| toronto – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| hamilton / niagara peninsula – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| ottawa – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| windsor / sarnia – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| prince edward island | – | – | – | – |
| montreal – quebec | 17.32 | 23.63 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| saskatoon / biggar – saskatchewan (1) | 14.20 | 21.00 | 27.00 | 2014 |
| Degree required | high school diploma or equivalent |
| training required | training is required; varies by location |
| key responsibilities | inform players of game rules, operate a game table or station, distribute gaming materials |
| licensure required | licensure is required; varies by state |
| job growth (2018-2028) | 1%* |
| median salary (2018) | $20,040* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of labor statistics
What are the duties of a casino dealer?
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.
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.
What are my requirements for this job?
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 (www.Bls.Gov). 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.
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.
What skills will help me be successful?
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.
How can I advance with this career?
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.
What's the job outlook?
According to the BLS, jobs for gaming dealers may grow by 4% between 2018 and 2028. Your salary will depend on where you're employed, but the BLS reported that the median annual wage for gaming dealers was $20,120 in may 2018.
What are some related alternative careers?
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.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
Casino occupations salary canada
Average casino occupation’s salary in canada
The table below details the hourly wages for casino occupations.
The canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 6533.
Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are: croupier, casino gambling dealer, keno dealer, slot machine attendant and gambling table operator.
According to the latest figures, the highest hourly average wages are earned in montreal, quebec at $23.63 per hour and the lowest average wages are earned in halifax – nova scotia at $15.00 per hour.
A typical full-time annual salary for this occupation is in the region of $30,000 – $45,000.
Government labour market data indicates that the number of job seekers will continue to be more than sufficient to fill the job vacancies in this profession for the near future. Jobs in this occupation may pay at the minimum wage rates.
Average hourly wages for casino occupations in canada
| location | low wage $ per hr | average wage $ per hr | high wage $ per hr | year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| calgary – alberta* (1) | – | 13.96 | – | 2017 |
| edmonton – alberta* (1) | – | 13.96 | – | 2017 |
| vancouver / lower mainland southwest – british columbia | 11.35 | 18.50 | 20.95 | 2016 |
| winnipeg – manitoba | 14.66 | 16.97 | 25.14 | 2014 |
| fredericton / oromocto – new brunswick | – | – | – | – |
| halifax – nova scotia | 10.40 | 15.00 | 25.00 | 2013 |
| toronto – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| hamilton / niagara peninsula – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| ottawa – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| windsor / sarnia – ontario | 15.00 | 22.00 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| prince edward island | – | – | – | – |
| montreal – quebec | 17.32 | 23.63 | 28.00 | 2016 |
| saskatoon / biggar – saskatchewan (1) | 14.20 | 21.00 | 27.00 | 2014 |
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