To many, it might seem inconceivable that you could get paid for this, but dealers do indeed receive a salary. The question is whether or not the salary is a decent salary given the skills and specialised knowledge that a dealer must possess. This article considers whether or not casino dealers are paid fairly.
What is the salary of a casino dealer?
Recent salary reports from this website claim that casino dealers outside of London are paid around £8-£9 per hour whilst their counterparts within the capital are paid around £12. In reality, casino dealers are receiving pay that is just above minimum wage. Of course, there are many factors to consider here, such as the amount of experience that these dealers possess and the class of establishment that they are working in. Still, the salary does seem small when considered against the potential earnings of a casino as discussed in this article examining the daily earnings of a casino.
Can casino dealers earn more though?
Yes, many casino dealers do report that they earn a lot more money through tips. How much depends a lot on what game you are dealing, the type of casino you are dealing for, and the people that you get to deal for. It seems, generally, however, that the more skilled and personable a dealer is the more they can earn in tips.
Any other ideas in regard to increasing tips?
Players are more likely to tip when they have had a big win, you know when they are feeling particularly flush. This can mean that the best tables to deal at in the casino or fast-paced games that attract big gamblers. Indeed, it has often been argued that Poker is the ultimate game for big tips because of the capacity for players to win big and its popularity. The issue is, that every dealer in the industry recognises this as a big payer so when you are starting out in your career as a dealer you will often find that you are forced onto the tables that are less popular and slower-paced. You will need to prove your worth as a dealer in order to get onto those bigger tables.
What about the hours I'll work?
It's worth bearing in mind that casino work can be seasonal. A casino based at a popular seaside location, for instance, isn't going to be busy in the winter and this might mean you won't work as many hours and may receive less in tips. In order to survive in the business, it might be that you have to work as hard as you can throughout the summer and save your earnings to get you through the winter months.
As you can see, it is entirely possible to earn a decent salary whilst also enjoying your dream career, you just need to work hard when it counts to build up those tips.
