The exact number of World Series of Poker dealers can vary slightly year-to-year based on attendance, schedule, and staffing needs, but the big round number of 1,000 has been a consistent benchmark.
We remember that for the 2022 event, the WSOP breached the four-figure mark for the first time, when the tournament moved from the Rio to Bally's (now Horseshoe) and Paris on the Strip. That's perhaps not so surprising, when up to 600 poker tables can be running simultaneously.
With more than 100,000 players participating in tournaments and cash games running 16 hours a day for 48 days, a lot of dealing jobs are created during the series. We understand that, with such a high demand for poker dealers, it’s not difficult to book and pass the audition, get a foot in the door, and accrue a lot of good experience during the tournament. Having the WSOP on your resume is a feather in your cap for future dealing employment.
The World Series of Poker starts filling out the dealer ranks in late February with rehires, who make up 75%-80% of WSOP dealers. The other 20% have to audition for the job from a broad mix of 19 different games (unless they have so strong a poker-dealing resumé that an audition would be a waste of time).
There’s a dedicated dealer-recruitment site (wsopdealersandstaff.com) for applications, auditions, and info.
Dealers come from all over the country. They used to be recruited internationally, but with the immigration situation over the past 10 years or so, foreign dealers can work the WSOP only if they already have an existing U.S. work permit, dual citizenship, or a green card.
Las Vegas-area dealers form a core group, but out-of-town dealers come in on their own. Dealers are hired as temporary full-time staff by Caesars Entertainment for the duration of the series. They pay for their own transportation and lodging. Many share houses rented for six to eight weeks; others take rooms in extended-stay motels like Budget Suites. Meals are provided while on shift in the break room. We’ve heard it’s “a step up from cafeteria food.”
