How To Become A Professional Casino Dealer

Standing in the center of a crowded casino, effortlessly shuffling cards and calculating complex payouts, is a highly skilled profession.


If you have excellent manual dexterity and can handle high-pressure social situations, it can be an incredibly lucrative career path.

Learning the Trade: Casino Academies

The journey begins by enrolling in a dedicated, state-licensed casino dealing academy or trade school.


You will typically start by learning Blackjack, as it is the foundation, before moving on to complex games like Craps or Roulette.

Some massive casino resorts offer free, in-house dealing schools, but you must pass an intense audition to be hired afterwardTuition for an independent dealing school can range from $500 to $2,000, depending on how many games you want to learnCraps is universally considered the hardest game to learn, but Craps dealers are always in high demand and make the best tips
The Reality of the Casino Floor

The job is physically demanding; you will be standing in one spot, making repetitive hand motions for eight straight hours.


While the base salary is often just minimum wage, a good dealer at a busy, high-end casino can make $70,000 to $100,000 a year in tips.

Aspect of JobThe ChallengeThe RewardPhysical TollStanding for 8 hours on hard floorsFrequent 20-minute breaks are legally mandatedPlayer InteractionDealing with angry or drunken gamblersBuilding relationships with generous 'whale' tippers

If you can master the cards and manage the crowds, the casino floor can become a highly profitable and exciting office.