How to Become a Live Casino Dealer

Last Updated on August 30, 2024 by Mary

If you’ve ever played at a casino, you’ll be familiar with the role of the live casino dealer. Sit down at a table to play a casino game such as Blackjack or Roulette, and you’ll be greeted by a dealer whose job is to take the bets and keep the game running smoothly.

Every casino requires a multitude of dealers, all of whom are highly skilled and all of whom play a vital role in the running of the casino.

It’s not just land-based casinos that need dealers, either. Nowadays, there are lots of online casinos that provide a variety of live casino games. These live casino games allow players to place bets online and then watch the action via a live video stream. The live casino dealer does their thing, much as they would if the players were sitting in front of them at the table, and is shown via the live stream.

If you’ve ever thought that being a live casino dealer would be a cool and action-packed job, which it totally is, and you want more information, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to look at how you can get into the casino dealer line of work and become one!

Casino Dealers – Different Types

There are, of course, multiple different kinds of casino dealers, so let’s look at the different variations:

• Roulette Dealer – roulette dealers are responsible for spinning the wheel and dropping the ball, informing the table of the winning number each time, collecting the bets and paying out any winners. They must also issue chips of different colours to players.
• Card Game Dealer – card game dealers run games such as Blackjack, Poker and Baccarat. They must be able to deal with each player’s card in a timely and efficient fashion before prompting players when it is their turn to choose what they do next.
• Online Live Dealer – Live dealers work for online live casino sites, not land-based ones. They work at tables inside a studio. They are filmed and broadcast to online players via live video. They can communicate with players, while everything they say and do is visible to those playing the game online.
• Craps – different from the others, a craps dealer is in charge of a dice game. When working a craps table, dealers tend to work in pairs; this is because the tables can get very busy, with lots of players all getting in on the action, so each of the dealers split the table in half and are each responsible for collecting the bets and paying out half of the table.

Become a Live Casino Dealer – What’s Required?

On the outside, a live casino dealer may have a relatively simple job, but most of the casino dealers that you see are very experienced and have developed their skills over a period of time. This is why they make the job look so simple, but in reality, there’s quite a lot to it, which is why the role of a casino dealer is not simply a job that anyone can walk into.

There are a few requirements for becoming a live casino dealer. First and foremost, you need to be of the legal gambling age, which, depending on your country, will typically be 18 or 19.

Aptitude for numbers and simple mathematics

You won’t need to rival the ancient Greeks for complex mathematical equations, but to be a casino dealer, you will need to have an aptitude for numbers and basic math.

Why must you be good at math? Casino games such as Roulette and Blackjack involve numbers. These games also require the dealer to be able to calculate payouts based on odds, and they need to do so quickly in order to ensure that players are paid out correctly and efficiently so that the game can run smoothly. To do this correctly, dealers must be able to perform calculations in quick time, so a solid grasp of math is necessary.

A cool head

As touched on above, dealers must act quickly and be able to calculate payouts at a moment’s notice. To do this, they must be able to keep a cool head and stay calm, especially under pressure.

Sure, it’s not life and death, but some casino tables can get busy, so there can be lots going on, and it is the dealer’s responsibility to make sure that everything runs right, so being able to stay calm and keep on top of the game is essential.

Hand-eye coordination

This is probably a given, but strong hand-eye coordination is an absolute must for a casino dealer.

At the Blackjack table, for example, the dealer must be able to deal multiple cards to multiple players and do so correctly whilst maintaining quite a fast pace.

If dealing at the Roulette table, the dealer must know which players have placed which bets, and be able to remove all losing chips and payout any winning chips in quick time without making any mistakes, so again, solid hand-eye coordination is required.

Willingness to work at night

Casinos are open during the day, while live casino tables available to online players can be played at any time, though most venues tend to get busier at night, with casinos often remaining busy until the small hours. This means that dealers tend to be required to work at all different times.

Sometimes, they will be working during the day, sometimes in the evening and sometimes late at night into the early morning. If you’re going to be a casino dealer, then working less-than-regular hours is part of the job, so you must be willing to work at night at times.

Practice makes perfect

To become a live casino dealer like the ones you see in land-based casinos and via live streams at online casinos, you need to learn the trade and practice. The best casino dealers have spent lots of time perfecting their craft, and this is why they not only consistently get their tables running smoothly but also make it look quick and easy in the process, leaving players satisfied.

There are many training courses and resources online that allow wannabe casino dealers to brush up on everything from technique to etiquette. There are also workshops and seminars that can be attended too, some of which are run by current or ex-dealers, who can share their secrets to success.

As is the case in many fields, lots can be learned from reading books. There are a lot of informational and easy-to-understand books on the subject of casino dealing. Would-be dealers can pick up lots of tips from such reading material, and it is advised that you read if you are looking to get into casino dealing.

Working with an actual live casino dealer who is willing to do some mentoring can be hugely beneficial, as this way, you’re actually going to learn from someone who is in the position that you wish to be in, which is never a bad thing. In many cases, casinos will provide their newbie dealers or trainees with mentors to help them learn the ropes, so you are likely to receive expert guidance at the start of your journey should you start applying for casino dealer positions.

Applying for Live Casino Dealer jobs

Once you feel that you’re in a position to get into casino dealing for real, then it’s time to start applying for jobs. You can do this in several ways. The most tried and tested route is to search for specific Casino Dealer job listings in your province or area, though that’s not the only route.

If you’re really keen, what you can do is make a list of all the land-based casinos within a reasonable distance that you’d like to work at, plus any online casinos available to Canadian players that offer live dealer casino games. Once you’ve drawn up your list, you can begin emailing the casinos expressing your interest in getting into casino dealing. Show your enthusiasm for the craft, plus a willingness to learn, and this approach may just land you a job.

At this point, it’s worth noting that in order to obtain a position as a casino dealer, you will need to undergo background checks, which will need to come back clean. This means that you must have a clean criminal record.

It’s also important to remember that it’s not all going to be about your ability to shuffle cards and spin the wheel. Customer service is key, so when applying for these jobs, if you can display experience in this area, then that’s great, as is any experience or skills relating to numbers and working in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.

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