Casino dealers question

It can be a hard position to find, but if you are already employed there I guess you have your foot in the door there. I know a buddy that went to dealer school paid $800 for the class, is certified, and cannot find work because all of the places around here want experienced dealers. Before the recession places around here (seattle area) couldnt hire enough dealers, now they can be choosy.

I'm not employed by Penn Gaming. I have put in applications for a couple of different positions. (one which just was posted on their site a few days ago)

I'm still asking is it $200 per session or $200 for the course? Huge difference.

Looks like passing the panel interview is the actual job application and initial acceptance. Completing the dealer school is the final requirement for hiring. It also looks like you can choose school hours to be flexible enough to keep your current job. It looks like a good opportunity to me.

Among other things, find out about casino dealing and whats its about.
somethings are: clean job, no heavy lifting, nice amount of breaks per shift.
cons: standing for long periods of time every single day.
making many basic calculations every hour, sometimes as many as 2000 per hour in blackjack.
Dealing with unprofessional floor people and pit bosses, and you will have too.
working screwed up shifts even when you don't get the right amount of sleep.
The best part I love is people blowing smoke in your face alllllllllll day and night.
Many people start work in a casino in a different dept. such as secruity and transfer
to either dealing or floor. Don't forget, you have to pass a strict backround check.
most likely an FBI, Dept of Justice and Interpool. If your already a convicted felon, stop worrying
they don't want you. Put down every little thing down on your Gaming Packet, they will find this out.
My friend had to fill one out to work at Barona Casino and it took about 3 hours to fill out.
Next: you'll be working with people with class A personality. not that easy to do. I don't like them, I can
deal with them but I still don't like them.
As for the customers, most have gambling addictions and many many other problems.
you'll be dealing with drunks, cheaters, and other type with no self respect. They could not care about
hurting you at your job or if you get fired period.
Remember, all that glitters in not always gold. It's a burn out industry and most dealers are somewhat treated as used condoms sooner or later. there are many many kiss asses and rats in this industry.
It's better than starving, but the money is not there in most casinos anymore and the prestige is fading.
Dealing is not for everyone, and it looks super easy. do your homework and see if it's for you.....
I dealt for about 6 years as I had lost my other career and was forced into a career change and I chose
casino dealing and can tell you that's it's not for most people. Most of my co-workersalong with myself got burned out. Really think hard.

RM, the people who do the training are offering a $200 discount for a $699/$899 classes. (single/package) The email says $200 for the training. So if the college is the correct one the total cost for 2 classes can run from $1398 (less $200) down to $899 (less $200).

Bob, my problem is I can't adjust my hours enough without taking a pay cut. My financial situation won't allow any loss in pay.

garrtel, passing a background check with a fingerprints won't be an issue. It won't even be close to the background checks I had while in the Air Force.

Why don't you just continue to pursue a security position, what you originally applied for,
and forget about the tips, the training and waiting for the $200 reimbursement ???


Rick

It would seem to me that the best people to answer your questions would be Penn Gaming. They will have a Human Resources department that can answer your questions with something other than the best guesses provided by posters here so far. If your financial situation is as tight as you suggest, you can't afford to decide based on comments from a board full of helpful, but not necessarily fully informed, people. I'd strongly suggest an email, phone call or in person visit to get all the facts you need. Good luck in your job search!

Rick, I was running it by people who have more knowledge about this area than I. Some of the folks here have been dealers or know dealers. It never hurts to get as much information as possible before making a very big mistake.

In any case, as I was checking the web site, the IT positions were finally posted. So I put my app in for one of them.

In a new casino, the first people to get their hours cut or laid off will be the dealers once the newness of the casino wears off. Security jobs should stay safe because they want to keep the place safe for the players. I would take the security job, and as soon as they offer a dealers school on property, more than likely in a few years, take the classes then. They will have to pay you for the traning because you are already employed by them, and the classes will be on your off hours.

That's what has happened in every casino I've seen open in the last 15 years. Some of my friends left our casino and that's what happened to them.

Ray