Education · 1 of 4
The path
No degree, no apprenticeship. You learn one game, audition, and get hired.
- 1
High school
Grades 11 and 12
Finish it. Also practice mental arithmetic until payouts are automatic, because you will not use a calculator at a table.
- 2
Dealer school or a casino class
1 to 3 months
Four to twelve weeks per game. Almost everybody starts with blackjack or a carnival game, because they are the quickest to learn.
- 3
Apply for your gaming credential
Weeks to a few months
Every gaming state screens you before you can work: fingerprints, a background check and a registration, permit or license depending on the state.
- 4
Audition
One shift
You deal a live game in front of a pit boss while they watch your hands, your speed and your errors. This is the real interview.
- 5
Break in and add games
1 to 3 years
Start on the quiet shift on the easy games. Learn craps and roulette next, because that is where the better schedules are.