Career Options
Success is in the cardsIt's a career that can take you around the world, from world-renowned resorts to cruise ships through exotic locales. But before you can launch a career as a casino dealer, you must learn to give a few "hits." LINDA WHITE |
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 [ 2005-10-19 ] |
Hits, of course, are in reference to blackjack, the most popular table game in casinos. It's also the entry-level position for wannabe dealers and the foundation upon which you'll build your skills and repertoire -- the more games you know, the more money you'll earn.
Chris Harry, executive director of table games at Casino Rama in Orillia, started working as a dealer in England. "I remember my first day. My hands were shaking and my palms were sweating," he says.
Nerves in check, Harry honed his skills and headed to Nassau for 16 years, where he worked his way up to pit manager. He went on to work in France, Montreal and Niagara Falls before joining Casino Rama. "If you have a good reputation and keep up contacts, you can get jobs around the world," he says. "Every place I've worked is different."
Applicants should have either some experience as a dealer or blackjack training through community colleges or private schools. "Blackjack is the point of least cost to (a casino) if a mistake is made," says Warren Howes, program manager at Georgian College in Orillia. It offers an 80-hour blackjack-training course that teaches the rules of the game, math and customer service.
"We ask people to visit a casino and watch the dealer before they take the course," Howes says. "The worst students are the ones who tell us they play blackjack all the time. The rules for playing are different than the rules for dealing ... There's a very rigid process that must be followed. Casinos don't want their dealers arguing with customers."
Dealers aren't allowed to gamble at the casino at which they're employed. "Ontario is the most highly regulated environment I've worked in," Harry says. "The Ontario government has taken gaming very seriously."
Most dealers are hired to work part-time and pick up shifts as they learn more games -- often through on-site training. "We constantly offer free training so our dealers can advance," Harry says. "The more games you've got, the more you can earn."
Baccarat and poker games like Caribbean, Let It Ride and Texas Hold 'Em are among those highest in demand. Casino Rama's table games department employs 1,200 -- 700 of those are dealers. "We're always looking for dealers and encourage people to apply online," Harry says. (It's currently accepting applications.)
"We're looking for people with a professional appearance. You have to be able to deal a game and be able to do calculations. You need a good work ethic and need to realize this is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365- days-a-year business ... If you accept that fact and have a good work ethic, you can do well."
Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort employs 700 dealers and another 300 supervisors. Executive director of gaming operations John Stamatakos began working as a dealer as a university student in the early 1990s, when the province was home to roaming charity casinos. He later worked at Casino Windsor.
$8 TO $10 AN HOUR
Casino dealing attracts a wide variety of personalities, from university and college students to seniors. Dealers typically earn from $8 to $10 an hour plus about the same in tips (known as "tokes") when starting out. You must be prepared to spend a lot of time on your feet, though some casinos offer sit-down tables.
You can work your way up through the ranks, from dealer to such positions as dual-rate dealer or supervisor, dual-rate manager, pit manager and floor or shift manager. "You will get better as time goes by, which is good because you will be motivated. It gives you the opportunity to show us what you're about," Stamatakos says. "Some may want to go into food and beverage or cage and coin. There's a lot of room for advancement."
PERSONALITY IS KEY
Personality is key to success. "We need to know how well you anticipate the needs of the customer and if you're able to read them ... Are they quiet? Are they sociable? It's about what we call 'the vibe,'" Stamatakos says. "You're dealing with a lot of personalities. Like a bartender, you have to be a performer. You have to be on the stage."
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QUICK FACTS
As a condition of employment in Ontario, all casino dealers must complete the Gaming Employee Registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. It includes a criminal background check and is completed once you receive an offer of employment. Registration must be renewed annually.
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