How To Become a Croupier.

How do you become a croupier?

In the UK it is estimated that just below half the population engage in some form of legal gambling every year, be that playing the lottery, playing online or in a real-world casino, over 30 million people every year place some kind of wager.

It may surprise many of you to learn that although there has been a massive increase in the number of people who are opting to gamble online, rather than in a bricks-and-mortar casino, many people are still choosing to train as croupiers in the hope of earning a living in an interesting and fun filled (for the most part) career.

In late 2008, it was revealed by the gambling commission that there were 144 casinos in operation in the UK, which offered individuals the opportunity to train for full-time positions, and it is even possible to work as a croupier on one of the many cruise ships that operate from the UK.

The work of a croupier includes rolling dice, spinning roulette wheels, and dealing cards- all of which may seem easy enough, but in fact require some in-depth training to master. They also need to ensure that all the chips have been placed on the table prior to the start of play, must know the rules of each game and be able to communicate the rules to players who ask, collect the chips from all losing bets, know the signs that a person is cheating and look out for them and calculate the payouts required by the winners.

To be a croupier a person must be able to work quickly and efficiently over long periods. Croupiers need many interpersonal skills, such as tact, equanimity, presentational skills, diplomacy...

Additionally, a croupier needs to have well developed mental skills, especially mental arithmetic skills; they need to be able to make complicated calculations on demand. The majority of croupiers are below the age of 35, there is no particular reason for this as there are no age barriers to entry.

Training to be a croupier:

There are no formal qualifications required for a career as a croupier; however, there are specialised courses that offer training as a croupier, certain colleges offer courses such as: casino operations and gambling studies. In addition, some universities even offer degrees in Gambling Studies/Operations.

Casinos themselves also offer in-house training, so if you are interested in becoming a croupier, then contacting a casino is a great way to start. The British Casino Association website provides listings, so make sure to check them out.

Most interviews for the position of croupier will require the completion of a mental arithmetic test; if you fail this, you will not be offered a post. Once you are accepted you will have to train, unless you are already qualified. However, anyone wishing to work the gaming floor needs to be licensed by the Gaming Board of Great Britain: licences are not offered to individuals who have criminal record and the necessary checks will be made to ensure you do not.  

The Job Itself:

Croupiers usually work shifts, often there are two different shifts available, 2pm-10pm and 10pm-6am. Croupiers spend a lot of time on their feet and should expect to work weekends and bank holidays.

The best rate of pay for a croupier in the UK is London, where starting salary is normally around the £18,000 mark, the rest of the UK averages £12,500 for a starting salary.

If you wish to work as a croupier on a cruise ship, you must normally have at least two years’ experience: the same applies to working in the casino Mecca’s of the world, such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

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