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.


Working on the casino floor provides a front-row seat to the wildest entertainment environment in the world.

Learning the Trade: Casino Academies

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


Students spend hundreds of hours practicing chip handling, mastering the 'riffle' shuffle, and memorizing payout tables.

The final exam consists of a live audition where you must deal a flawless game while instructors actively try to confuse youYou must pass a rigorous FBI background check and obtain a gaming license from the state before you can legally workEven a minor criminal record involving theft or fraud will permanently disqualify you from ever holding a gaming license
Working Conditions and Earning Potential

You must also develop a thick skin, as dealers frequently absorb the anger of players who are losing large sums of money.


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.