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Dealing in a Casino

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  1. chronkie chronkie is offline

    Columbus, OH
    United States

    Posts: 85
    Joined: Dec 11

    Dec 29th, 2011 (12/29/2011 8:50am)

    Hey guys, theres a new casino opening up in town next year sometime and I just had a couple questions. I have very little experience with casinos being a 20yr old from Ohio so pardon my noobiness. Anyways, i was wondering if it is possible to play in the same casino that you deal at. Also, it seems as though you can make pretty decent money as a dealer. Is it low wage and mostly tip based? Does it depend mainly on what stakes your playing? I am looking to take the game a little more seriously and being a dealer would not only help me improve my game but also provide some paychecks.

    Thanks, appreciate it.
  2. MYBLUEDOG MYBLUEDOG is offline

    Greenville, MS
    United States

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    Dec 29th, 2011 (12/29/2011 12:54pm) in reply to chronkie

    1. Can you play & deal at same casino? Depends on the house rules & state gaming regulations.

    2. You can make decent money but it depends on whether you have good dealing skills to go with people skills. If you are slow or make mistakes your tokes will not be very good. It will also depend on whether the casino has a toke sharing policy or do you keep your own tokes.

    3. It could help with your game skills and player reading ability. You will be required to count pots (for raking the casino drop).

    Being a dealer is a tough, boring job. You don't make any pay except minimum wage when you are not in the box. Not any tokes when you don't get a turn dealing.

    How soon will you be 21 to be able to work at the casino?
  3. chronkie chronkie is offline

    Columbus, OH
    United States

    Posts: 85
    Joined: Dec 11

    Dec 29th, 2011 (12/29/2011 7:20pm) in reply to MYBLUEDOG

    Definitely appreciate the response thanks blue. Ill be turning 21 in a little under a year, and the casino is supposed to opening sometime in the final quarter of 2012. So it should be pretty close. Why do you ask?

    I have been playing holdem with my buddies for about 8 years now so it's not like i'm a complete hack at dealing. However, i would still need to brush up on my other games. I would imagine they offer some sort of training, do you know (i understand its different casino to casino) how comprehensive the training generally is?
    Thread Starter
  4. williambrasky14 williambrasky14 is offline

    Milford, NH
    United States

    Posts: 190
    Joined: Jul 10

    Dec 29th, 2011 (12/29/2011 7:33pm) in reply to chronkie

    I've been a dealer/floor supervisor for 4 years, started when i was 19 in NH. It's a pretty fun job, not very tough like the second poster said. It won't help your game much, every so often there will be a long pot tho that you can try to test your ranging of an opponent on showdown. You really should talk to the poker room manager about being a dealer and what steps you need to take because some rooms won't hire people without experience/poker school certificate.
  5. FNMJ FNMJ is offline

    Amsterdam
    Netherlands

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    Joined: Dec 11

    Dec 31st, 2011 (12/31/2011 4:05am) in reply to williambrasky14

    most casinos require a graduate certificate from one of the dealer schools they approve (at your expense)
    most casinos let dealers play on their off time.
    most dealers that play poker don't fold enough pre, they are used to being involved in every hand so they have a hard time folding as much as they should.
  6. chronkie chronkie is offline

    Columbus, OH
    United States

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    Dec 31st, 2011 (12/31/2011 11:45am) in reply to FNMJ

    Thanks for the insight guys I really have little idea about the whole dealing thing. The dealing certificate has been mentioned several times though. Can either of you guys elaborate on that a little more? Like how long does it take, how expensive, and would they even offer those in ohio? I mean we just voted two years ago to let casinos run in OH so i doubt there was much of a market for dealing school beforehand. Thanks
    Thread Starter
  7. MarkH MarkH is offline

    Lehi, UT
    United States

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    Dec 31st, 2011 (12/31/2011 4:23pm) in reply to chronkie

    Here's a bass backwards way to approach it. Call the main office of whoever will run the casino (that's not always the owner) and ask what type of education/training their dealers will need to get jobs. With this economy they probably have twice the applications than they have dealing jobs already. The vast majority of those applications however will be from people that don't have the qualifications. It's very possible that they intend to do their own dealer training since it's unlikely there are any dealer schools nearby. It's also possible they'll set up their own dealer school and charge tuition. You'll only find out if you call. The better your qualifications when you fill out the application, the better your chances of getting a job. And don't limit yourself to just dealing poker. If you can show proficiency in dealing craps you'll be virtually guaranteed a job.

    Something else nobody has mentioned is that some card rooms not only let dealers play in their room, they require them to play as props in order to keep tables going and keep up the rake.
  8. Gags30 Gags30 is offline

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    Dec 31st, 2011 (12/31/2011 4:57pm) in reply to FNMJ

     
    Originally Posted by FNMJ View Post

    most casinos require a graduate certificate from one of the dealer schools they approve (at your expense)

    i don't think this is necessarily true. i know some casinos require you to go to dealing school, but many that i know of will also allow you to audition, and if you pass that then they don't care that you didn't go to dealing school.

    with that being said, you do need to know how to deal all the games like omaha8, stud8, triple draw, etc. so if you don't know those, going to dealing school would prolly be helpful
    170 2 

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  9. CSuave CSuave is offline

    Hilliard, OH
    United States

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    Jan 3rd, 2012 (1/3/2012 9:55pm) in reply to Gags30

    Chronkie, I am in Columbus also. I think any training you receive will help but the state nor Penn Gaming has stated what will be acceptable certification.
    Do you play at any of the 11 gaming clubs in the Columbus area?
  10. chronkie chronkie is offline

    Columbus, OH
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2012 (1/4/2012 5:24pm) in reply to CSuave

    Hey Csuave thanks for the help, i am going to contact them at some point here soon.

    I haven't played at any of the clubs because to my knowledge all of them are 21+ so i'm out of luck. I was interested in Gemini until the casino passed so I am just going to wait it out. The newish Nick's tank looks like it offers a pretty good game and it's pretty close to my house but i can't see it offering better games than the casino. It's probably for the better anyways, gives me some time to save a roll and work on my game.

    I'd imagine the casino will probably ruin a lot of the market for these clubs. Do you anticipate that you will switch mainly to the casino or are you going to stay at any of the clubs, if so which ones? Thanks for the input, i imagine ill be seeing you at the tables at some point.
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  11. 7DeLuX 7DeLuX is offline

    Orlando, FL
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2012 (1/4/2012 9:20pm) in reply to chronkie

    I used to deal at a couple home games back in the day, a little different then casinos but same overall concept. I think it vastly improved my game in a few different areas.

    For one it gets you used to following the action, it can be tough going from online to playing only one table. Also helps with little things like handling chips, math and just overall understanding of game flow. Obviously getting an idea of how the regulars play can only help if you are allowed to play in these games.

    If you need the income and enjoy the game I cant see any downside other then having to sit in a chair for long hours. But if you use the job as a learning tool it can out weigh any negatives very easily.

    As for actually getting the job, I saw Wandigo post about a new casino opening in Ohio so I can only assume this was the same one. He said they were offering a class where if you passed you were basically guranteed a job.

    Hope that helps, gl.
     3
  12. CSuave CSuave is offline

    Hilliard, OH
    United States

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    Jan 6th, 2012 (1/6/2012 5:21am) in reply to 7DeLuX

    Chronkie, Nick's and Gemini are the two best clubs for action in Columbus. There are others though that may accept you and also may fit your level better. Have you tried to play at Gemini? I think Nick's is 21 and over but not sure about Gemini. I will ask tomorrow. LOL I know of a club that also has a .50/1.00 game too.
    I will probably play at both the clubs and the casinos when they open. The clubs offer a value you will not be able to touch in the casinos due to the rake.
    I am actually hoping to get a job at Hollywood.
  13. chronkie chronkie is offline

    Columbus, OH
    United States

    Posts: 85
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    Jan 6th, 2012 (1/6/2012 5:00pm) in reply to CSuave

    Good news. Yea i stopped by Gemini when i was 18 and they didn't let me play. It's probably a good thing, lol I would've gotten shelled. As for now I think I am probably just going to wait it out and try to improve on my game and save up until I am 21. I understand that the value of the clubs is tremendous especially when you are logging long sessions but does that mean you don't anticipate the club's action being effected too poorly by the opening of the casino?

    What kind of job are you looking for at the casino?
    Thread Starter
  14. CSuave CSuave is offline

    Hilliard, OH
    United States

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    Jan 9th, 2012 (1/9/2012 7:01am) in reply to chronkie

    I am hoping to secure a poker dealer position at the new casino.
    I am really not sure what will happen to the clubs. Lots of speculation out there right now about it. Everything from being raided to being ignored or even licensed. Who really knows.... only time will tell.
    I will make some inquiries about playing at Gemini and get back to you. Don't be too timid to try other clubs. I am pretty sure Platinum in Grove City and Lucky Dogs on S. High St and on S Hamiltion accept 18 and over players. Evergreen in Grove City may also accept 18+ players.
  15. tedSTRETCH tedSTRETCH is offline

    Costa Rica

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    Jan 9th, 2012 (1/9/2012 7:07am) in reply to CSuave

    every dealer in the state im in has to sign up get hired and then go to a 2 week course for whatever game they will be dealing, sometimes multiple courses depending on what they are dealing.... craps is a 1 week course fwiw
    553 
  16. dangitisuck dangitisuck is offline

    Sioux Falls, SD
    United States

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    Jan 13th, 2012 (1/13/2012 6:55am) in reply to tedSTRETCH

    craps class will last at least 80hr, but if they offer it go for it!
  17. CSuave CSuave is offline

    Hilliard, OH
    United States

    Posts: 246
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    Feb 7th, 2012 (2/7/2012 5:44pm) in reply to dangitisuck

    For anyone still following this thread, Hollywood Casino (Penn Gaming) has announced that Hondros College will be the location for table game classes.
  18. williambrasky14 williambrasky14 is offline

    Milford, NH
    United States

    Posts: 190
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    Feb 7th, 2012 (2/7/2012 6:27pm) in reply to CSuave

    i think craps is a lot longer than 1 week...pretty sure its the second longest class to poker
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