Croupier – How and Why to Become a Casino Dealer
Becoming a croupier requires some essential steps, which will open the doors to that enchanting world. There are training courses at first, and once at the job, you will be in the action interacting, earning, and enjoying. We go over the croupier meaning, job description, salary, courses, and more, so jump right in. You can use the buttons below for the exact paragraph or go through the whole article.
Keep in mind that there are several croupier jobs relating to different types of casino games. For example, blackjack and poker dealers work with cards, roulette ones with the wheel and a small white ball, while the craps game involves mainly dice and sticks. We got you covered on all details with dedicated sections, charts, and explanations.
Casino Croupier Meaning – Job Description
Many of you might already know that there are two sides to gambling – the house and the gamblers. The public is most interested in the latter, but this does not mean that the house’s side is dull. Some analysts say that one of the most exciting professions is representing “the house” , a.k.a. being the casino croupier. Here are just some of the activities the croupier job combines:
- Interact with players
- Deal cards
- Spin the roulette ball
- Give players dice to throw
- Explain the game rules
- Collect the bets
- Assist with machine malfunctions
- Protect the betting pot from theft
- Ensure compliance with the regulations
- Liaise with security staff
Why is this profession exciting? For starters, there is the diversity of the games. The casino dealer can be placed at different tables like blackjack, poker, baccarat, and roulette to control the gameplay and process. There is also the responsibility for smooth game development and making sure that nobody cheats.
In case the croupier notices something suspicious, such as card counting, security comes in handy. The casino policy is also part of the croupier job – each dealer needs to make sure it is upheld. On top of that, casino croupier explain game rules to beginners when necessary.
The Casino Croupier Salary
Indeed, salary is one of the primary incentives for a person to take on a job. As with most professions, the croupier salary increases as the employees gain more experience. A casino dealer career is an attractive option due to the minimum education requirements, good pay, fun environment, and flexible job training.
The average croupier salary in the US is about $12 per hour and goes as high as about $28 per hour. While in the UK, it spins around £9 to £12 per hour with an extra in the form of tips. The reputation and location of the casino affect the hourly rate that casino dealers receive. Still, the average income from tips per hour in the USA is about $200.
Oddly enough, up to 75% of a croupier’s annual income is composed of tips. The tipping rate also depends on your interaction with the guests and the location of the casino (country, city, etc.). More and more states and regions have active casinos, making job availability better than many other careers.
Being a Live Casino Dealer – Pros and Cons
From brick-and-mortar casinos to online sites and cruise ships, croupiers get to travel, and the tips can make for a great career. Wagers don’t depend on the type of game but the experience of the casino croupier. All that comes with certain perks, which may be more of a negative for some of you. Let’s take a look behind the casino table.
As you may know, the best online casino sites include live dealer tables in their portfolio. The croupiers there can also be seated, and as for land-based casinos, the dealer is standing in most of the cases. There is more, but first, take a look at our overview of some of the pros and cons below.
| ✔️ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Deal with the customers directly | On your feet most of the time |
| No degree is required | Only a part-time job |
| Appropriate for nightcrawlers | Pay relies heavily on tips |
| A good side job | Croupier training course paid by you |
| Longer breaks | A licence paid by you (in the UK) |
| Boast a very high income | Flawless appearance all the time |
These are our takes on the positive nuances of the croupier job and what can be taken as a negative one. However, you get to travel (if working on cruise ships), meet new people, explore your people skills, and learn new things while working shifts that suit your needs. There are hurdles along the way to becoming a casino dealer, and they are part of the process. We will talk about some of them in the coming paragraph and help you better understand the croupier meaning.
Croupier Working Time Schedule
The timetable of a casino dealer is colourful and filled with shifts, breaks, and game durations. The majority of land-based and live online casinos work around the clock. Still, in most places, you get 30 minutes break every 90 minutes of work. Those doing eight hours shifts will have a gap of up to 2 hours.
The hour and a half you spend behind the casino table can bring a lot. You get paid per hour, so the valuable 30 minutes breaks come in handy. It helps you relax and give a 100% for the next 90 minutes. After all, the tips make the most of a croupier salary. You get to work in the mornings and afternoons on some occasions, but your primary shifts will be at nighttime.
Live Casino Dealer – Overview and Details
Gambling will never be the same again after the online casino industry took the world by storm. That opened new job opportunities worldwide, including live casino croupiers. You might be familiar with the best gambling sites in the UK and their live categories. There you see well-dressed professionals behind real casino tables. Their job is similar to land-based venues.
If you want to apply to work for an online operator or at a brick-and-mortar location, you need to be of legal age and without any criminal record. If the land-based gambling hall buzz distracts the players, here the chatty and engaging croupiers take all the tips. Your math skills and fast mind will be helpful as well.
Plus, you will have to keep an eye on several monitors. Some show the players and the Dealer User Interface. The surveillance team and the manager use others. Another helps the croupiers to see themselves and to check how the player sees them.
Depending on the online operator, you’ll either work from the studio of the land-based venue or go to a separate location solely made for that purpose. Regardless of the physical location, it’s a studio with one or several tables.
Usually, two dealers per shift can share one table. That amount varies depending on the number of users. Let’s take the best live roulette sites in the UK for example. They use studios specifically created for live casino games streaming.
Croupier Training – Croupier Course Details
The first step into becoming a casino dealer is completing a croupier course. There you will learn the rules and procedures of each game plus get a better understanding of the croupier meaning. You will also get acquainted with local and state gambling laws and regulations.
In other words, you will learn the proper processes and procedures for working as a dealer. The courses can last anywhere from four weeks to several months. That is determined by the number of games taught and the quality of the training.
Croupier Training Programs
Let’s start with what you can choose. Students can pick whether to receive training in just one game or comprehensive training covering all the games played in a casino. Casino training schools are often found in cities where the gambling industry is well developed.
The average price for a croupier course is about £380 in the UK and $500 in the US. The cost varies depending on the games taught. It is best to go for a comprehensive education so that you can work on multiple games. That best improves job flexibility and income.
Other than the specialised schools, some casinos offer such croupier courses. They do them directly within their facilities and offer employment to the successful students after course completion. Each way you go, professionals are in charge and will explain everything from scratch. Keep in mind that the longer the program, the more training you get. On top of that, you should also practice your performance in front of a camera for the online version.
FAQ
Once you finish your croupier course and get a gaming licence, you are ready to explore the world of gambling on the other side of the table. There are several checkboxes along the way, which we tried to tick in our article. We have selected the main aspects in a brief and informative FAQ section.
