A veteran teaches you the tricks of the trade. By Al O’Grady
hat do you do for a living? Do you like your job? Are you looking for a career change? If so, have you ever thought about being a blackjack dealer? Before you get caught up in the lights, glitter, and excitement and make a mad dash to the casino’s HR department, I can give you the positives and negatives of this occupation. For those of you that have no desire whatsoever to make this a career choice, you might have a better understanding as to what we dealers must go through after reading this.
Why?
The first question I must ask you is, why would you want to do this? What motivates you? Is it the money? Sorry. I hate to burst your bubble but we are not getting independently wealthy doing this. Every casino is different as to how it pays its dealers, but in North America most dealers are like waiters. We make an hourly wage either at or little above minimum wage and then rely heavily on tips to make a livable wage. If the patrons are generous, we can do well. If they are cheapskates, we can struggle to make the rent or buy groceries.
Are you looking for a career and not just a job?
Perhaps moving into casino management as a pit boss or higher. Starting out as a dealer would give you excellent experience to move up in the industry. If that is your main goal and you have time on your side, you might want to consider being a dealer for five years. If you have not moved up at all, you might want to reconsider your career choice.
In casual conversation at dinner parties when people ask me what I do, they are intrigued when I tell them that I am a blackjack dealer. But I also tell them that for me dealing blackjack is not work. I tell them that I turn cards, I move chips and I count to 21. I make it clear that the work is standing all day and the physical strain on your feet, back, neck and shoulders, dealing with boredom, and dealing with jerks. That is the work.
The Requirements
This is not a typical Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 job. When you are starting out, you will get the worst shifts. You will be working nights and weekends, as that is the busiest time for the casino. Those hours can put a strain on relationships with your significant other. If you are a parent with young children, it can be tough getting home at 5 a.m. and your little one wants breakfast at 7:30. For everyone’s sake, I hope you have a solid family support system that can make it work.
How are your arithmetic skills? If you struggled in math class, this might not be for you. If you have trouble adding six or seven cards together, how are you going to calculate a blackjack payout of a $45 bet at 3:2 odds? What is the answer? You do not have the luxury of using a calculator. If you did not know it was $67.50 or could not get that in three seconds or less, you might want to think about doing something else.
How are you affected by profanity? People will swear at the table. I am not condoning a player’s ignorance, but it is part of the atmosphere. Personally, I can act like a drunken sailor with the best and worst of them, and I can raise the bar and act professionally with the highly cultured. I can adapt to the situation. But if someone is dropping “F” bombs constantly, you must emotionally divorce yourself and figure out if they are swearing at you or at the situation. Ninety-nine percent of the time it is at the situation and you must let it go. For that one percent of the time, you cannot take matters into your own hands. You must defer to your supervisor and let him handle it.
How do you like someone looking over your shoulder constantly? A supervisor and a pit boss make the rounds watching all the tables. There are times when they will stop at your table to watch a few hands. You must perform not only for the players but for the boss as well. Even when the supervisor is not there, there is overhead video surveillance monitoring your every move. Dealers make mistakes. It happens. It is only human nature to feel slightly awkward when someone is watching you like a hawk.
The Upside
This job is not all doom and gloom. There are some workplace benefits. I take pride in doing a decent job. I was truly fortunate to have been blessed with an excellent math mind. The regulars are constantly amazed at how I can do a complex math calculation quickly and accurately. I have earned their respect and sometimes an extra tip. I know basic strategy inside and out. Again, an extra tip is usually forthcoming when I give them winning advice.
If job security is important to you, this career is something that could appeal to you. I have yet to see a casino go broke. You could have a job for life. Even if your local casino shut down for whatever reason, there are plenty of casinos in North America (and the world for that matter) that are always looking for good dealers.
When I was a kid growing up, I did not dream of becoming a blackjack dealer. I do not think any kid does. I was going to be either a professional athlete or pilot. Somehow life got in the way. There were many twists and turns in my path. This is my fourth career and, at this stage of my life, it is a job and nothing more. I come to work; I do my job to the best of my ability and I go home.
Why did I become a blackjack dealer? I lost my previous job when I was 55. Now what do I do? I have a gambling streak in me; I am good at math and I am a people person. This seemed like a simple solution, given all things going on in my life at the time. However, this is a short-term solution to help pay the bills until I can find something better. In the meantime, blackjack anyone?
And don’t forget to tip the dealer.
