Becoming a casino croupier is a popular career choice among the younger generations, either as a side hustle or something to pursue full-time. But what does it truly entail? As many who are already doing this for a living will tell you, this kind of fast-paced life is not for everyone.
Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of working as a croupier.
The croupier is the backbone of a casino
Unlike what is the case in a typical online casino, without croupiers, brick & mortar casinos as we know them would not be able to function. This profession challenges you in two main areas; namely, your people skills and how swift you are when it comes to dealing cards in a fast-paced environment.
You will also need to get comfortable with multitasking and dividing your attention between:
– Answering the customers’ questions
– Entertaining people
– Keeping a watchful eye on the chips
– Shuffling and dealing cards
– Quickly adding up the numbers
– etc.
But if you see yourself doing these things and if they are at least somewhat enjoyable to you, this can be one of the most rewarding careers out there.
Do croupiers have to undergo training?
If you already have the necessary experience, you can apply for a job opening straight away. Otherwise, you’re going to need to seek out trainee croupier job opportunities. To be accepted, you need to be of legal age without a criminal record. Either way, to work as a croupier, you will need a license from the Gambling Commission to satisfy the legal requirements.
To answer the question, yes, croupiers need to undergo training that covers multiple areas of their work and teaches them how to properly:
– Shuffle a deck of cards
– Spin the Roulette wheel
– Handle playing chips
– Address the customers
– Collect the bets
There are multiple training providers to choose from, including the casino itself as well as third-party companies. The good news is, most of the participants claim the training experience is quite fun and engaging.
The career growth opportunities
Although being a croupier is far from working in typical corporate environment, in a way, there is still a corporate ladder for you to climb, should you choose to. After working in this industry for 2 years and more, you can become a pitboss or be promoted to one of the managerial positions.
Even as you start out, if you want to get paid more, there’s always the option of putting in more hours and thus being paid more. Unless you’ve signed some sort of an exclusivity clause with your employer, you’re free to take on as many jobs as you like in other casinos or even combine your work with other jobs and studies.
Are you up to the challenge?
On top of everything else we’ve discussed, being good at your job also involves having the capacity to spot a cheater. Oftentimes, you encounter one of these when you least expect it, particularly because cheaters often have lovable personality traits and friendly antics. But if you fail to report them, it could, in extreme cases, cost you your job.
Conclusion
Being a croupier is a lifestyle choice as much as it is a job. To be successful at it, you’ll need to display a mix of specific skillsets and have a likable personality to boot. But if you have a knack for making swift calculations, a dexterous pair of hands, and the tenacity to work odd hours, this career path might be right for you.
