A UK dealers’ tournament in conjunction with the new London Casino and Gaming show in January is ‘a major coup’ for the show, said EAG chairman Martin Burlin.
It is confirmed this week that the UK Dealer Championships will take place at the exhibition on Wednesday, January 15, the second day of the show at the ExCeL location in London, home of the annual EAG for the amusements and low-stakes gaming exhibition.
Martin Burlin announced details of the tournament after discussions between himself and show director Nicola Lazenby and show ambassador Nick Harding, in conjunction with Murat Salih, who is Director of Live Table gaming at London’s Hippodrome Casino, one of Europe’s most prestigious locations.
“This is a real coup for us,” said Burlin. “We expect to see many casino principals in London for LCG and in many cases they will be bringing senior management and dealers with them. Holding the tournament when they are in town is logical, very convenient and exciting for our new event.”
LCG will be running alongside Bacta’s EAG from January 14-16.
The organisation of the tournament annually, is in the hands of Murat Salih, who has been with the Hippodrome for 12 years, starting as Gaming Manager. Salih has been Director of Live Table Gaming since 2020, during which, he said, he has seen ‘countless tournaments, local, national and international, and worked with some of the best dealers in the industry.
“The UK Dealer Championships started in 2016 and have since grown to become one of the most highly regarded competitions in the industry. The event was designed to showcase the skills and professionalism of the top dealers from various casinos across the UK.”
He said that dealers are nominated by their respective operators. Each operator can put forward their most talented dealers to represent them at the championships. “Most operators have their own in-house competitions to identify their champions. It’s a highly selective process, ensuring only the best make it to the competition.
“The competition is designed to assess dealers on a range of critical skills. Participants are judged on their card handling abilities, game knowledge, security awareness, customer service skills, and overall professionalism. These areas represent the key qualities we look for in top-level dealers.”
Competition standards are set by a panel of expert from within the industry. The panel is composed of experienced casino managers, former champions and senior figures from the UK’s casino sector. The judges evaluate the competitors across the pre-set areas of expertise.
Image: Murat Salih
The competition is very much a UK one, confined to dealers currently employed in British venues, but the European Dealer Championships, which are also overseen by Murat Salih, welcomes competitors from across the Continent.
Winners of the UK event receive a trophy to go with the prestigious title, plus a £2,000 prize. Second place receives £1,000 and third £500. There are other awards for winning specific technical events. The awards will be made during the LCG/EAG networking and drinks event at Lola’s Underground Casino at the Hippodrome that evening. All of the equipment used in the competition at LCG will be supplied by TCSJohnHuxley.
The tournament encompasses one day during which there are intensive sessions, with multiple rounds where they can showcase their skills in different games and scenarios.
Salih explained that while it is described as the ‘Dealer Championships’ it is actually open to all professionals at a table, although the competition focuses primarily on blackjack and roulette.
He sees the London Casino and Gaming Expo as ‘an excellent platform to enhance the competition’s visibility.’ He added: “Show organisers can support by promoting the event, offering logistical support, and creating opportunities for the competitors and audience to engage with industry professionals and sponsors. It’s a perfect synergy that benefits both the competition and the expo.”
