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Card Dealer: Things You Need to Know to Become a Professional Dealer

So you believe that you are particularly good at handling cards. You always end up the dealer during poker nights because of your sick card shuffling skills. You always hear your friends quip, “you should be a casino dealer.” Well, if you believe that you have what it takes, you should consider taking the career path of being a card dealer. 

Becoming a card dealer is a great way to earn a living if you love playing card games such as poker and other casino staples. However, just because you think you are a great card dealer, it doesn’t mean that the job is for you.

As with any profession, there are certain aspects of being a professional card dealer that should be taken into consideration. Thus, it’s important that you do your research beforehand.

How to Become a Card Dealer

Being a professional card game dealer doesn’t mean that you have to be a world-class card player. However, it certainly doesn’t hurt for you to have prior knowledge of the game so it becomes easier for you to learn the skills of the trade. 

The good news is that you don’t have to complete a college degree in order to become a card dealer. However, do keep in mind that many casinos would prefer hiring individuals with a high school diploma or GED. After all, a dealer’s job requires knowledge of basic math.

For training, a dealer typically must finish a course at a dealer school, although in some cases, training can be provided by the casino itself. 

The course can take between 8 to 12 weeks and should equip you with proper qualifications to pass a casino audition. There are numerous qualifications to be admitted to a dealer school. Most commonly you need to be 18 or over, have a high school diploma or GED, and have no police records – especially related to theft.

When enrolling at a dealer school, make sure that you sign up with a facility that you’re comfortable with. The instructors should have extensive experience with casino games and if possible, working as a full-time dealer. 

Also look for a training facility that provides hands-on training and job search assistance. There are many schools that work with casinos to set up auditions and have casino managers visit the facility to scout potential employees.

Requirements to Become a Card Dealer

Every state has its own gaming control board so requirements and regulations can vary by state. Generally, the following are the requirements to become a professional card dealer:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • No felony records
  • No misdemeanors related to theft
  • Pass a drug test before employment
  • Have the ability to acquire and maintain a card dealer license
  • Pass a dealer audition
  • Be able to accept on-the-job training in casinos
  • Flexibility in work schedule – can work during weekends, nights, and holidays

Since you will be dealing with customers all the time, some casinos will also require their dealers to complete a customer relations training program. The training could last anywhere from a week to a month.

Skills Needed to Become a Casino Dealer

Even with the best card handling skills, not everyone is suited to become a dealer. To be a professional dealer, you need to have the right personality and skills.

  • Mental arithmetic: A dealer must have the ability to quickly calculate a dealer chip, bets, pots, and card values mentally.
  • Strong communication skills: Since you will be dealing with customers at all times, having a strong ability to communicate well is a must.
  • Sociable: A dealer must also know how to effectively deal with people as this will not only affect how much you’ll enjoy the job, but the tips received as well. An enthusiastic demeanor and outgoing personality can go a long way.
  • Patience: A dealer should always be calm and collected at all times. You will surely come across angry or disgruntled players, so having patience will allow you to stay calm in such tense situations.
  • Attention to detail: A dealer should be able to instantly read card hands while also being on-point. This requires good attention to detail especially when some games can be rather fast-paced.
  • Knowledge of local community: Casinos attract a lot of tourists so it’s important that a dealer knows the local attractions to recommend to tourists and patrons.

Are You Ready to Deal?

There are also jobs where you can be an electronic card dealer and it requires similar skill sets. 

Know that being a card dealer doesn’t pay much in terms of salary. However, the tips more than make up for it. 

Card dealing is a promising and fun career path for anyone who loves card games.

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