Casino Dealer Questions

[Isaac Lee]

I am considering to become a casion dealer in Las Vegas. I am planning to go to dealing school at American School of Dealing and learn Blackjack and Roulette (I heard the house will teach you the rest of the games). But I have a few questions.

1. How long after finishing the school does it take on average to get a job?

2. I heard that you start off downtown and work your way up to the strip. If that is true, normally how long does it usually take to work your way up to the strip?

3. What is the average pay, including tips of course, in downtown and also the strip? I have heard sources say that in downtown, you get paid 20k per year and another tell me that you earn 40-50k per year and wondering which is true? And how about the pay on the strip?

[Play2win]

I have worked all over Southern California but never Vegas. I would suggest to you though that you learn a majority of the games, not just Blackjack and Roulette. I'd at least learn, Blackjack, Pai gow, Baccarat, Three card and then Roulette. The Pai gow and baccarat are 2 games I'm almost positive you will need to know and 3 card is a pretty common game with different variations ( 4 card, Ultimate hold-em, ect. ). If you don't know poker ranking hands, it will be difficult to try and get a dealing job. Once you learn these basic games though, the extra carnival games will be easy to pick up.
As for the other questions, like I said I've never worked in Vegas. Not even a clue what they make, sorry.
Good luck and keep the board updated!!

[treetreetree]

Poker is very tough out here right now. Times are tough, layoffs are heavy. Best bet is to wait until the 2009 WSOP, audition (pass) make some money, and keep your eyes open for gigs during and after the WSOP.

[AtomBomb]

I personally wouldn't come to Vegas until this recession is over.

[AKA; Jimmy Jack]

If you are thinking of moving to Vegas I would suggest that you have enough money saved back to pay all your living expenses for at least a year but two years would be even better. If you are just learning the games I think two years living expenses would be the safest. Times are really tough here right now when it comes to casino jobs so I hope that you have other employment ideas to hold you over till you can break into the business. As to the games to learn, the I would suggest craps, blackjack, baccarat and roulette to get started. There is a glut of poker dealers in Vegas and personally I think it would be a waste of your time and money to pay to learn poker right now.


As to the schools, remember they make their money training students and will tell you that they offer job placement assistance but THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES. In other words they will tell you what you want to hear to get you in the door and get your money, but there are no guarantees that you will find work. I have visited most of the schools here in Vegas and if you would like to e-mail me at; [e-mail] I will give you my impressions of the different schools.

I know the next thing I am about to say will sound sexist but its the truth. You have a much better chance of finding a job if you are a young attractive female. Most of the casinos now offer "party pits" which hire only females with great bodies to deal in those areas. It draws in customers and makes money for the casinos, so they are here to stay. Also, DO NOT expect to get a job just because you are good at what you do. There are many factors that come into play like personality, how well you interact with the interviewer, (most companies rely on their human resource department to hire candidates), and who you know (a good word from the right person can work wonders). Remember for each job opening you may be competing against as many as two thousand other candidates (that is how many applications one interviewer told me they had for one job I applied for). Just a fact of life here in Vegas.


The suggestion to come audition for the 2009 WSOP is a good idea but remember you will need to know how to deal all the games and most importantly you must know procedure. Anybody can pitch cards and read hands, but what makes a professional dealer is the ability to follow procedure. Knowing how to handle yourself and what to do in the box will earn you respect not only from the players but from your fellow dealers. Additionally, you will need to know TDA rules, be proficient in handling, counting, and cutting checks, be able to secure a sheriffs gaming card, pass a background and credit check and have an understanding of how to resolve any issue that might arise while dealing (most but not all of these will be up to the floor to handle).

You will also need enough money to pay your living expenses until you receive your first paycheck which could be almost three weeks before you make any substantial amount. Don't forget to have at least 5 white long sleeve dress shirts and 3 pair of black dress slacks, 6 pair of black socks and at least 2 pair of black dress shoes. Don't forget to add the cost of professional cleaning to your living expenses, the average cleaner will charge about $2.00 per shirt, $6.00 for slacks, you can wash your own socks but have a shoe shine professional do your shoes at least every 5 times you wear them. Part of being a professional is dressing professional, so look the part.


Lastly, but maybe most importantly, take some time to decide why you are considering becoming a dealer. If you are doing it only for the money (as some of your questions suggest) then I would suggest taking an even harder look what is involved. While the money can be great it should not be your main reason for becoming a dealer. Dealing is a great job but it is not for everybody. You must love working with people and have the ability to handle all types of situations that are thrown at you. Dealing is not the easiest or best job in the world, its just better than all the rest of the jobs in the world. Vegas is a great place to live, but you must be able to handle the easy access to all the excess. If you have any self control issues, I would tell you that Vegas is not where you need to be. The easy access to alcohol, drugs (by the way in case anybody who is thinking of becoming a dealer doesn't know it already, you must be able to pass a drug test. Be it a urinalysis, a hair test or a saliva test, if you have a history of drugs use DO NOT even think of becoming a dealer), gambling, sex, and all other vices makes Vegas a hard place to live if you do not have your life together. We do not need anymore homeless people lining our streets and if you cannot control yourself you will end up there.


Take your time in making a decision as big as moving to Vegas. But, if after looking at both the positives and the negatives, you still decide that dealing is for you, then I wish you the best of luck.

[Mark Carlton]

Nice.

AKA; Jimmy Jack said:

If you are thinking of moving to Vegas I would suggest that you have enough money saved back to pay all your living expenses for at least a year but two years would be even better. If you are just learning the games I think two years living expenses would be the safest. Times are really tough here right now when it comes to casino jobs so I hope that you have other employment ideas to hold you over till you can break into the business. As to the games to learn, the I would suggest craps, blackjack, baccarat and roulette to get started. There is a glut of poker dealers in Vegas and personally I think it would be a waste of your time and money to pay to learn poker right now.


As to the schools, remember they make their money training students and will tell you that they offer job placement assistance but THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES. In other words they will tell you what you want to hear to get you in the door and get your money, but there are no guarantees that you will find work. I have visited most of the schools here in Vegas and if you would like to e-mail me at; [e-mail] I will give you my impressions of the different schools.

I know the next thing I am about to say will sound sexist but its the truth. You have a much better chance of finding a job if you are a young attractive female. Most of the casinos now offer "party pits" which hire only females with great bodies to deal in those areas. It draws in customers and makes money for the casinos, so they are here to stay. Also, DO NOT expect to get a job just because you are good at what you do. There are many factors that come into play like personality, how well you interact with the interviewer, (most companies rely on their human resource department to hire candidates), and who you know (a good word from the right person can work wonders). Remember for each job opening you may be competing against as many as two thousand other candidates (that is how many applications one interviewer told me they had for one job I applied for). Just a fact of life here in Vegas.


The suggestion to come audition for the 2009 WSOP is a good idea but remember you will need to know how to deal all the games and most importantly you must know procedure. Anybody can pitch cards and read hands, but what makes a professional dealer is the ability to follow procedure. Knowing how to handle yourself and what to do in the box will earn you respect not only from the players but from your fellow dealers. Additionally, you will need to know TDA rules, be proficient in handling, counting, and cutting checks, be able to secure a sheriffs gaming card, pass a background and credit check and have an understanding of how to resolve any issue that might arise while dealing (most but not all of these will be up to the floor to handle).

You will also need enough money to pay your living expenses until you receive your first paycheck which could be almost three weeks before you make any substantial amount. Don't forget to have at least 5 white long sleeve dress shirts and 3 pair of black dress slacks, 6 pair of black socks and at least 2 pair of black dress shoes. Don't forget to add the cost of professional cleaning to your living expenses, the average cleaner will charge about $2.00 per shirt, $6.00 for slacks, you can wash your own socks but have a shoe shine professional do your shoes at least every 5 times you wear them. Part of being a professional is dressing professional, so look the part.


Lastly, but maybe most importantly, take some time to decide why you are considering becoming a dealer. If you are doing it only for the money (as some of your questions suggest) then I would suggest taking an even harder look what is involved. While the money can be great it should not be your main reason for becoming a dealer. Dealing is a great job but it is not for everybody. You must love working with people and have the ability to handle all types of situations that are thrown at you. Dealing is not the easiest or best job in the world, its just better than all the rest of the jobs in the world. Vegas is a great place to live, but you must be able to handle the easy access to all the excess. If you have any self control issues, I would tell you that Vegas is not where you need to be. The easy access to alcohol, drugs (by the way in case anybody who is thinking of becoming a dealer doesn't know it already, you must be able to pass a drug test. Be it a urinalysis, a hair test or a saliva test, if you have a history of drugs use DO NOT even think of becoming a dealer), gambling, sex, and all other vices makes Vegas a hard place to live if you do not have your life together. We do not need anymore homeless people lining our streets and if you cannot control yourself you will end up there.


Take your time in making a decision as big as moving to Vegas. But, if after looking at both the positives and the negatives, you still decide that dealing is for you, then I wish you the best of luck.