Life as a Casino Croupier

The Life of a Casino Croupier

Casino Croupiers are the backbone of any land-based casino. They help facilitate the service that casinos are famous for – the games!

Being a casino dealer is a varied and fast-paced job that involves expertly dealing with cards and customer questions.

The lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Those who rise to the challenge tend to thrive and have rewarding and enjoyable careers.

Croupier Jobs & Training

If you’re interested in working in a casino, the first obvious step is to find local trainee croupier/dealer job opportunities.

You can do this by checking job websites or directly contacting local casinos and asking whether they have any vacancies.

Most casinos list their current opportunities on their website, so that’s a perfect place to start.

You must be 18 or over to apply. You’ll unlikely be accepted if you have previous criminal convictions, so bear this in mind.

If you’re offered a job, you’ll need to obtain a license from the Gambling Commission. This is a legal requirement before you can work as a fully-fledged croupier.

To qualify, you’ll need to complete a croupier training course. This involves learning the etiquette and rules of each game, such as Roulette and Blackjack.

You’ll also be taught to handle playing chips, shuffle cards, and spin the Roulette wheel.

Collecting bets and paying winners correctly requires quick thinking and an aptitude for mental arithmetic.

The training is intense but fun. If you work hard and practice, you’ll learn all the skills needed to become a croupier.

The training courses are usually provided by the casino, but if the casino is small, it may use an outside company.

Either way, the training is paid for, and your employer will apply for your licence on completion.

Career Progression

Once you’ve been working for a while and built up your skills and a good reputation, there’s no reason why you can’t progress up the career ladder.

With around two years of experience, you can apply for higher-level positions, such as pit boss and then managerial positions.

Alternatively, assuming that you can deal at least three different games, you can apply for casino jobs around the world and on cruise ships.

This offers a tremendous travel opportunity and allows you to experience life in different parts of the world whilst working in a job you enjoy.

Some large chain casinos have ties with overseas casinos, so it’s worth asking about potential opportunities to work abroad later.

Like most dealers, you’ll dream of working the tables in Las Vegas. It’s certainly possible with hard work and a good reference from your current employer.

That 5 figure tip is just around the corner!

Croupier Do’s & Don’ts

A few important things to remember when dealing games and facing customers.

The first, and one of the casino’s most feared happenings, is customer-cheating.

While casino security is good, cheaters still exist, and as a dealer, it’s your job to know what to look for and report it when necessary.

Many cheaters lure you into a false sense of security by being extremely lovely, friendly, and ‘genuine’. But this is just a ploy to gain your trust.

If you suspect a player of cheating, no matter how ‘silly’ you think your suspicions may be, REPORT IT.

If you don’t, you risk losing your job, and could lose the casino a substantial amount of money.

You’ll be shown in your training what to look for and how to catch a cheat.

It’s also important to remember to show compassion if you see players losing.

While it’s all fun and games hitting the Blackjack tables with your friends, you will inevitably encounter serious punters who gamble a lot.

Occasionally, you’ll be faced with players losing a LOT of money.

Don’t make snide remarks or mock a player for losing. This will likely result in them making a complaint.

It’s also important to point out that if you feel someone is out of control, you are legally required to take action.

Usually, telling the pit boss or manager will be sufficient, so don’t neglect this point.

Player safety must always be at the forefront of your mind.

Is The Lifestyle For You?

The casino croupier lifestyle isn’t for everyone. It takes a particular personality and various attributes to be successful.

Good mental arithmetic is essential, as you’ll need to calculate customer payouts quickly. An outgoing personality and superb people skills are also necessary.

A casino is a very sociable environment, so the ability to socialise and have fun while still doing your job is vital.

Croupiers can work long hours. There are generally two shift patterns: 2 pm to 10 pm and 10 pm to 6 am.

This varies from casino to casino, but be aware that you must work very late.

You must always maintain a well-groomed, smart appearance and be willing to work weekends and bank holidays.

If you can adapt to these conditions, including the somewhat antisocial hours, a job as a croupier may be for you.