Tips are the grease that lubricate the gears of Las Vegas casinos. Seasoned gamblers know “toking,” or tipping, is a great way to not only thank dealers for their stellar service, but they also ensure a dealer will watch your back (and your bets) during your play so you’ll get the most from your visit to the tables. I have worked the WSOP 3 times, but will not be going back this year. It is relatively expensive to live there temporarily and the Rio provides no compensation for travel or housing expenses while you live in Las Vegas for 7–8 weeks. Many of the poker dealers deal an average of 30 hands per hour and they can earn $1 per hand, so it is not unusual to earn as much as $30 per hour based on tips alone. This estimate depends on the fact that cash game players generally tip an amount equivalent to one small blind at low and mid-stakes when the pot won is more than 10x the big blind. I am a dealer.dealers usually work on tips only, i tip $1 or $2 everytime i win a pot in cash games.tournaments are a totally different story.if u cash in a tourny u should tip out 10% of ur winnings unless they take out tip along with rake when u buy in to the tourny at the begining. This is so b/c dealers make near nothing on. Poker Dealers Poker dealers take home most of their salary from tips, so if you win a pot, it's customary to send at least a $1 chip over to the dealer. Poker dealers are in their own tipping category, because they do a lot more work to keep track of splitting the pots and sometimes have to put up with annoying behavior from players.

Why would you want to become a poker dealer?

There are a few reasons that poker players, in general, decide to become poker dealers. One of those reasons, the most obvious reason, is that dealing poker is very profitable – much more profitable than most people realise.

Think of it like this, it’s pretty much good practice to toss the dealer a buck every time you win a hand right? Not everyone does it, but most of us do, some toss more especially the travellers and other people that don’t play the game on a regular basis.

How much do poker dealers earn?

For right now, let’s go with that, an average of $1 per hand in tips. We won’t even take into consideration tourists and other big tipping games. Now we’ll consider another fact about dealing poker, the fact that poker dealers are expected to deal an average of 30 hands per hour minimum.

So, assuming an average of $1 tip per hand, 30 hands per hour means poker dealers are making about $30 an hour in tips plus very small paychecks they are taking from the casino.

In Oregon, for instance, at Chinook Winds Casino poker dealers are paid $8.80-$9.48 plus tips. Comparatively, Table Mountain Casino in California pays new dealers $8 plus tips. Dealers in Oregon must pass an audition at the casino as well as undergo an extensive background investigation, pass a drug test and receive a licence from the Gambling Commission.

There are lots of openings for tournament dealers; however, cash game dealer positions are actually pretty hard to come by.

How do I become a certified poker dealer?

The most common way to become a certified poker dealer is to take a class on dealing poker. The length of poker dealing classes varies from as little as two weeks to as many eight weeks. The price of the classes varies almost as much as the length required in them.

The ease of finding a class and being able to afford that class largely depends on where you’re located. For instance, in Oregon at Chinook Winds Casino, classes are offered free during the slower months in effort to gear up for busier summer events.

Classes at Chinook Winds Casino are usually a couple of weeks long with as much follow up as is required for a new dealer to pass an audition. Caesars in Las Vegas also offers free poker dealer classes when they’re gearing up for the World Series of Poker season. These classes are three weeks long, are followed up by auditions, background checks and licensing by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

The average price to learn any new casino game seems to range from these free classes, that aren’t offered regularly, on up to about $1500 with a guaranteed job placement after you’ve graduated at the larger more expensive schools. It’s been said that the best dealer schools teach new dealers how to deal multiple games including Chinese Poker.

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If you are curious what sort of things you might learn at a professional Holdem Poker dealer school check out videos on YouTube for learning to deal casino poker.

Dealing these major tournament events offers these new dealers a venue in which they can hone their skills, become ready to pass stricter auditions working in places such as Atlantic City, Las Vegas or aboard poker cruise ships.

Obtaining your State Dealers Licence

Once you’ve gotten the necessary training, and a position at a casino, you’ll need to become licenced by the state where you’re to be employed. This process generally involves proving your citizenship via the same documents employee’s use to prove their right to work legally within the United States and passing a criminal background investigation.

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The background investigation usually requires that the applicant submit to fingerprinting and submit a photograph of themselves with their application. Applications then need to be renewed every 3-5 years.

Breaking into the Industry

Poker Dealer Average Tips

If you’re looking to become a licenced dealer, at an actual casino, you’ll need experience dealing professionally. It’s the same catch 22 the world has dealt with when looking for employment for decades, you have to have experience to get it.

The best way to break into the field without actual live game dealing experience is during large tournament events. When casinos hold monthly, quarterly or annual large events they tend to be very short-staffed so this is a great time for a trained, yet under experienced dealer, to pick up some extra dealing time and grab some experience to put on the their C.V.

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The biggest tip you can take advantage of is to learn every game you can whenever you get the chance. Whether it’s poker, or another casino game, the more games you can list on your job applications the more appealing you will be to the casinos you send your C.V. to.

Remember, as you hear about free classes like the one’s held occasionally at casinos like Caesars, that 100’s of dealers before you have paid a lot of money for these classes to get their position within the casino. You may have to pay for other classes in the future so, snap up these free opportunities whenever and wherever possible!