---

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to become a casino dealer, also known as a croupier? Maybe you’ve been to a casino and been curious about life at the other side of the table, or believe you have the skills that could make it a promising career?

 

For whatever reason, working as a croupier could be a great career choice for those who are interested in hospitality, the gambling industry, and even travel.

 

But how do you become a croupier, what is the working life like, and is it a worthwhile career? We wanted to have a look at the role of a casino dealer and hopefully answer any questions you might have.

 

Qualifications

 

To begin, you will likely not require any formal qualifications for a career as a croupier, although there are courses and qualifications available, for instance, an NVQ in Gambling Operations. But if you have completed a croupier course, it would greatly be in your favour.

 

Most casinos will conduct their own training for the role, to help guide you through the conduct and principles of the establishment, including any unique house rules for certain games.

 

It is also likely that potential employers would want to look at your GCSEs, particularly English and Maths, which will demonstrate that you have the adequate communication and arithmetic skills necessary for the role. You will be working with people and money (or gambling chips), so these are essential skills to have.

 

But casinos will be looking out for certain skills from their staff rather than qualifications, skills that will help secure and maintain the reputation and professionalism of the casino. The kind of skills they will be looking for include:

 

Numeracy

 

Basic numeracy skills are a prerequisite for the role of a croupier. You will need to be able to calculate card values, keep track of scores, add up bets, and calculate winning payments accurately. You don’t need to have savant-level mad math skills, but you do need to be comfortable with numbers and making calculations.

 

There will be training that will help make the day-to-day calculations you make easier, although it may feel a little intimidating, to begin with. Many of the games in the casino will have the same number ratios in use, so you’ll soon be very familiar with your times tables!

 

Communication

 

A casino is much like any other hospitality environment, and you’ll be expected to offer guidance and hospitality to guests, ensuring that you make it as pleasant a visit as possible. Coral Island Casino prides itself on being a friendly, welcoming environment, so being able to clearly communicate with customers before, during, and after a game is vital.

 

This can include explaining the rules of the games, ensuring players all feel welcome, and providing guidance when necessary. For casino newbies, some games can appear to be a little complex in terms of the rules at play.

 

The casino environment needs to feel welcoming and friendly for both beginners and experts, and being able to clearly communicate with all players, from a wide range of backgrounds is an important skill to have or develop.

 

Communication in a hospitality environment always needs to be professional and respectful, never dismissing questions or displaying any favouritism to players.

 

Diplomacy

 

Diplomacy goes hand in hand with communication, and a croupier will need to know how to be diplomatic. Sometimes, players may become rude or angry, and it is important to know how to diffuse the situation and remain calm and respectful.

 

Avoid reacting emotionally if a player is rude to you, calmly finish the hand and if you are unsure about how to deal with the situation, speak to your manager or pit boss. Remember that there can be a lot of money changing hands, and people can become a little heated.

 

A career as a croupier means you need to always remain humble and be prepared to admit if and when you make a mistake, and a diplomatic, honest, and composed dealer can make a world of difference.

 

Speed

 

Whether you are dealing the cards at the Blackjack table or stacking chips at the Roulette table, if you are clumsy or slow with your hands it can be frustrating for the players. But if you’ve practised, efficient, and with purpose, it can help create an exciting atmosphere, making the stakes feel even higher than they are.

 

You don’t need to be able to shuffle a pack of cards like a sleight-of-hand magician as most casinos will have card dispensers and automatic shufflers, but your conviction and comfort when handling the cards is important.

 

However, learning to shuffle a deck, deal, and handle the cards will always create a great impression on players. A casino will help to train you on your etiquette, but you should always practice at home with a deck of cards.

 

Career Progression

 

Career progression is a very important consideration for any career choice. There could be a wide array of roles available in a casino, with varied responsibilities and hours.

 

You might start as a croupier, and possibly progress to become a pit boss, where you manage and oversee multiple tables, and perhaps from there to a manager.

 

Gaining experience as a croupier could also open doors to more exotic locations (even more exotic than Blackpool!), for example, cruise ships, where you could end up travelling the world, and spend time entraining guests from all around the world. There are gambling establishments in just about every corner of the world, so your skills can certainly take you far!

 

Working Hours

 

Life as a croupier is one that benefits night owls, as a casino’s busiest hours will typically be in the evening through to the early hours. Coral Island Casino is open until 4 am, for example.

 

This means you need to be able to remain awake, sharp and alert at all times. Working often unsociable hours might not be for everyone, but if you feel more alive at night then this could be the job for you.

 

Salary

 

In the UK, the average salary for a croupier is around £22,000, according to Payscale.com, starting at around £15,000 and going up as much as £34,000, depending on experience and location.

 

But your salary is not your entire earnings, as you will also receive tips from players, and if a player wins big on your table, they might want to repay some of your professionalism and hospitality in the form of a tip at the end of the night. In a larger casino, this could add up to as much as an extra £500 per month.

 

Of course, you’re likely to get bigger tips at a city-based casino rather than one in a small town, but it’s the experience gained from working in a small-town establishment that will help you graduate to larger city casinos.

 

Progressing to a pit boss can bump your salary up to around £27,000, and working on cruise ships and abroad can also pay well, especially in tourist resorts.

 

Becoming A Croupier

 

Working as a croupier can be a viable and lucrative career path, as well as giving opportunities to travel abroad, especially if you enjoy working late nights.

 

But there are other benefits too, such as seeing the joy and euphoria on players’ faces if they win, as well as the opportunity to help guide people to gamble responsibly. There may be regulars you get to know, and good conversation can help players keep a clear head, as well as keep you entertained throughout your shift.

---