The UK’s gaming industry has grown year on year, and is worth an estimated £13 billion today. Online gaming is set to expand hugely too, increasing its forecasted revenue to nearly $60 billion by 2020. Thanks to this growth and casino gaming culture becoming more mainstream, there is now a larger demand for trained casino professionals, as well as the support staff needed to keep casino doors open. This makes it a viable career option.
So if you’re looking for a new job, why not look to land a role in the casino industry? Make no mistake – even if you aren’t quite a table expert, there are still opportunities that may suit your skills. We’ve put together a list of casino jobs where recruits are in demand, so you can get a feel of the types of roles you’ll find available – and how you can get them.
Croupiers
As one of the most important jobs in the industry, the casino simply wouldn’t be able to function without croupiers, or casino dealers, as they’re sometimes called. These are the friendly faces who manage the table games on the main floor, dealing cards, placing the ball in the roulette wheel and making sure everyone receives their chips when they win.
Croupiers require a lot of training, and it’s certainly helpful if candidates already know the rules of the casino games they’ll be managing. Casino visitors will expect croupiers to know the rules inside out but may also look to take advantage of a croupier who doesn’t possess authority on the table – so potential candidates need to be confident in their abilities.
In order to qualify for this job you’ll need to have a basic standard of maths and experience handling money and dealing with the public. Having colour-normal vision is also a requirement due to the games involved, as is clear speech and good hearing.
Depending on which country you call home, you might also need a licence. In the UK you must be 18 years old or above and be in possession of a licence from the UK Gambling Commission and be cleared from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Croupiers usually start at trainee level, so they can be trained up by a casino. In the UK, you’ll start on £14,000 to £18,000 before moving to £20,000 to £25,000 when you gain experience. As with many positions in the casino, croupiers will be expected to work at unsociable times. Casinos generally are busiest on evenings and especially at weekends, and some are open 24 hours a day. As well as unsociable hours, croupiers may need to stand for extended periods of time and maintain concentration at all times, so physical and mental endurance is needed for this position.
If the idea of dealing with hundreds of members of the general public up close and personal doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then you may be more interested in the more ‘hands off’ approach to being a casino croupier. One of the newest and most exciting features for many online casino providers is the ‘live casino’ feature, where professional croupiers are streamed live directly to players’ devices and computers, bringing the casino atmosphere straight to the user, who may be playing from the comfort of their own home, or on the move.
This involves simply dealing cards or placing roulette balls directly to camera, so you don’t need to keep a hawk’s eye on your customers – meaning you can focus more on giving them a great experience. Live casino croupiers will often be the best of the best, especially those at leading online casinos. If you would like to see how it works go to this superb live casino with real dealers and you’ll see what we’re talking about.
How much does a croupier earn?
Las Vegas: $37,000
London: £21,500
New York City: $35,000
Pit Boss
Let’s face it, pretty much everyone who walks into the casino is looking to make some extra cash – and some players will try to bend the rules to win. From stealing chips when they think no-one is looking to employing complex strategies like card counting, the croupiers need support with the cheekier players or downright criminal players who are out to beat the house by any means necessary.
As well as having a sharp eye for these players, the Pit Boss (or Floor Manager) also has several other key responsibilities. They may be simply providing directions to a certain table or the bar one moment, to dealing with an unruly customer who isn’t handling a loss very well the next. Alcohol is served in the majority of casinos, and it takes a calm and relaxed manner to deal with players who have had one to many. Professionalism is the key in this role, and as with croupiers, candidates need exceptional people skills, as well as sharp observation skills. They may even need to support the croupiers when it comes to errors or game rules, so Pit Bosses will also need to have a strong background in gaming, and an infallible casino gaming knowledge.
One of the most important responsibilities of the Pit Boss is to ensure all players are gambling responsibly, and this includes looking out for people with gambling addiction. The Pit Boss will likely be the person who recognises regular casino visitors, and it’s up to the them to support the croupiers and casino manager if they think the person is gambling beyond their means or displaying erratic behaviour to chase losses. The Pit Boss, working with the casino manager, needs to have the foresight to manage people who have no control over the gambling; after all, it’s a legal requirement for casinos in the UK to stamp out problem gambling with help, support and even exclusion if necessary.
How much does a Pit Boss earn?
Las Vegas: $31,395
London: £26,978
New York City: $11.90 per hour
Bar and support staff
A large chunk of casino visitors want to have a good time on and off the tables, so they may wish to enjoy a few drinks or a meal. Larger casinos often have multiple bars and even restaurants within the complex, so the people that run these facilities play a key role in extending the AAA experience that many casino visitors expect.
While any drink-making and cooking duties will depend on exactly what role you have on the bar or as a member of support staff, you’ll be expected to deliver a high level of customer service. It pays to treat casino guests like royalty, as some will be more willing to tip if they feel they are having a great experience.
Ideally you’ll have experience on a bar, and serving customers, although it’s possible you’ll be able to learn this on the job. As with any large facility, casino also require security staff, cleaners, administrators, cashiers, janitors and sometimes greeters who will mingle with guests and ensure everyone is having a good time – so there are lots of opportunities to be in with a shout of getting one of these entry-level positions.
How much does a casino bartender earn?
Las Vegas: $10.17 per hour
London: £7.48 per hour
New York City: $13.64
Casino Manager
The Casino Manager is the person ultimate responsible for everything that happens in the casino. Therefore, some of your primary duties will include making sure all of the employees and the casino itself are complying with regulations and requirements. They will deal with everything from individual guest cases to the management of staff, as well as the general upkeep and quality of the casino experience. One of the most important responsibilities of the Casino Manager is to ensure that the casino is making a profit, so they may be involved with setting promotions and incentives and working with marketing to get more players through the door.
Other responsibilities include hiring and developing your employees, and overseeing the work of any contractors who might be on the premises. You might also have to create schedules for your employees and approve any holiday requests.
You’ll also spend time talking to customers and making sure they feel welcome, addressing any complaints along the way. You may need to explain the rules to some people, dealing with any mishaps that may arise. It’s important to keep everyone happy (particularly the high rollers) because this is what’s generating the casino its profits.
Some employers may require a degree, but good school qualifications should be sufficient. Equally, you’ll need management experience within the hospitality or gaming industry. That’s why many of the managers you’ll find in casinos will have been promoted from within, having worked as gaming supervisors or dealers beforehand. To stand yourself in better stead for the job of a casino manager, there are Gambling Studies degrees available in the UK. If you’re in the UK, you can also sign up for a program at the Institute for the Study of Gambling & Commercial Gaming.
You’ll also need to have clearance from the DBS and a licence from the Gambling Commission, which you can get online. Once you have all this, though, you could enjoy a generous salary (up to £80,000 in the UK) depending on how big your casino is, and the nature of your role.
How much does a Casino Manager earn?
Las Vegas: $48,500
London: £48,500
New York City: $67,950
Whatever your level of experience or career preference, casinos require a diverse mix of staff members to provide a world-class experience to their members and guests. Although the biggest and bestcasinosites in the world may look for several years of experience before they hire, experience can always be gained either by working in a smaller casino or through study. There are several vocational courses in the UK when it comes to casino and game management, so this may be a good starting point for aspiring casino professionals who are struggling to gain experience. Whatever position you’re interested in, putting in this hard work and dedication at the start of your career is a great way to secure your future success.