Casino Dealer

In general, casino dealers:

• conduct gambling games smoothly, legally and according to casino rules
• exchange money for casino chips
• make sure players have placed their bets before play begins
• announce winning numbers or colours
• compute payoffs and pay winning bets
• collect losing bets
• respond to questions about game rules and casino policies.

Their specific duties vary depending on the type of game.

Blackjack dealers stand at a table and deal cards according to established game procedures. They may deal cards from four or more decks, or from a shoe (a box that dispenses cards individually) or automatic shuffler. After all the players at a blackjack table have decided how many cards they want, dealers compare their hands (cards) to each player's hand to determine who wins and who loses.

Baccarat dealers may work in teams of up to three people, depending on the size of the table and number of players. When they work in teams of three, one person deals cards and the other two payoff and collect bets.

Craps (dice game) dealers work in teams: a box person, a stick person and two dealers. The box person supervises the game, mediates disputes and controls casino chips. The stick person pushes dice to shooters (people who throw dice), retrieves thrown dice and calls the game. The dealers payoff, and move and collect bets, depending on the outcome of the throw.

Poker dealers shuffle and deal cards to players, evaluate players' hands to determine winning bets, take the house percentage from the pot and pay winners.

Roulette dealers sell casino chips, spin the roulette wheel, release the ball, and payoff and collect bets. During busy periods, two dealers may work one roulette table.

Similarly, casino dealers may deal other games such as Let It Ride, Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em, Three or Four Card Poker or Tile Pai Gow.

There is a great deal of supervision in gaming. Everything is watched and videotaped by surveillance cameras to protect the casino, players and staff from cheating, theft and mistakes.

Most dealers work in pits (groups of tables) and rotate positions to give each dealer a 15 minute break every hour. They must remain alert, cheerful and helpful at all times. Many dealers are on their feet all the time except during breaks.

Dealers work shifts. They often work late nights, weekends and holidays, and may work full time or part time. Depending on the casino, they may be required to wear specific types of clothing (for example, tuxedo shirts and pants, casino uniforms or vests).

Casinos often are crowded and noisy.

Casino dealers need the following characteristics:

• honesty
• good communication skills in English (or the language in which the casino operates)
• the manual dexterity required to handle cards smoothly
• the ability to count and add quickly and accurately
• the ability to concentrate for long periods of time
• the ability and desire to keep employee, customer and business information confidential
• good problem solving skills
• good stress management skills
• the interpersonal skills required to deal effectively with difficult players and those who become angry when they lose.

Craps dealers must be able to keep up an enthusiastic patter during craps games.

All casino dealers should enjoy meeting and serving all kinds of people, and be willing to work under close supervision.

Below-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.

Casino dealers are employed in gambling establishments located in urban centres or on First Nations reserves.

Advancement generally takes the form of learning how to conduct more advanced games or moving into supervisory positions. For example, dealers may start dealing blackjack and later learn other table games such as craps or roulette. Then they may advance to floor supervisor positions, overseeing table games and dealers in a pit. Floor supervisors may become pit managers who ensure that games are run smoothly, schedule dealers' breaks, watch for cheating, mediate disputes, open and close table games and do the associated paper work. Further advancement to management positions may require related post-secondary education.

Casino dealers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6533: Casino occupations. In Alberta, 96% of people employed in this classification work in the Information, Culture and Recreation (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 1,400 Albertans are employed in the Casino occupations occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.4% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 20 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As instrumental musicians form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for instrumental musicians. 

There is a relatively high employment turnover rate in this occupation so demand for new workers is fairly steady. However, there often are many applicants for vacant positions.

Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission website: www.aglc.gov.ab.ca

Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council website: www.cthrc.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.