Most look at the casino as an exciting place to spend the night out playing the odds for a chance to win lucrative cash payouts. For others, it’s another day at the office. There are all sorts of opportunities in all fields for job hunters seeking casino careers. In fact, the number of casino jobs will grow even higher, and according to the United States Bureau of Labor, casino employment will increase 14% over the next decade.
Casinos employ thousands from every area with all levels of experience. Some casino jobs involve serving customers, tending to slot machines, dealing cards, or overseeing other gaming activities such as bingo or keno. Others take bets, pay out winnings, or manage accounts. Still other jobs in casinos involve supervising or managing gaming workers and operations.
Casino Dealer or Croupier
What would the casino do without the dealers? A casino dealer or croupier operates table games such as craps, blackjack, and roulette. They stand or sit behind the gaming table dispensing cards, providing dice, or operating gaming equipment for players. Most dealers require a certification and must know about the rules of a variety of games, how to compare the house hand against the player’s hand, and how to properly pay off and collect money or chips. Dealers make a relatively low base salary, but can earn a good living from tips.
Average Salary: $17,000 - $19,800 base salary*
$30,000- $50,000 including tips
Want to become a casino dealer? Learn the game rules first with the Ultimate Guide to Casino Games.
Gaming Surveillance Officers
“And the eye in the sky is watching us all.” Anyone who’s seen a movie about a casino will recognize this occupation. The surveillance officer, that omnipresent “eye in the sky” overlooking activities at a casino, manages casino security. Using audio and visual equipment, the surveillance team monitors the casino from an observation room, watching for theft, cheating, and other suspicious behavior either by employees or patrons. Sometimes they must also help detain individuals until law enforcement arrives. This position often only requires a high school diploma and prior experience in security.
Average Salary: $25,000 - $37,000*
Pit Bosses
Otherwise known as gaming supervisors, the pit bosses supervise gaming tables and staff throughout the gaming floor. Circulating among the tables, pit bosses make sure that all stations and games are attended to during each shift. They also specialize in customer service by addressing complaints and explaining house rules to patrons. In addition, pit bosses plan and organize activities for guests starting in their casino hotels. Generally, pit bosses have relevant experience working in a casino and have taken gaming management classes. They also require a license issued by the local gaming commission.
Average Salary: $38,650 - $58,830*
Gaming Managers
Casino manager jobs oversee the casino operations on a larger scale. They plan, organize, direct, control, and coordinate gaming operations and formulate policies for the areas they manage. Casino managers hire and fire employees, coordinate security, and also deal with high profile customers. Typically, gaming managers have at least an associates or bachelor’s degree along with relevant work experience.
Average Salary: $50,000 - $90,000*
Read about the ultimate boss of the casino, Founder and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Sheldon Adelson.
Gaming Cage Cashier
A business that deals in cashing and paying out money naturally requires professionals with experience in handling money. Casinos need cage cashiers to handle the financial transactions when a customer purchases or cashes out money, chips, tokens, or tickets. They must also verify credit, provide check authorization, or establish house credit accounts. Typically, a cage cashier has prior experience handling cash and has obtained a high school diploma.
Average Salary: $25,000 - $38,000**
Gaming Accountants
Casinos seek out accountants to maintain the bottom line. Accountants examine, analyze, audit, and give advice on the casino’s finances and budget. Gaming accountants at casinos usually need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, a license or certification, and previous experience in gaming audit, accounting, or finance.
Average Salary: 60,000***
Slot Technicians
Slot technicians repair and maintain the gaming machines, and make sure slot machines payout the proper amount. They are also responsible for enforcing safety rules and reporting hazards. Casinos generally hire slot technicians who have completed some course in basic electronics with exerience in electronic repair.
Average Salary: $38,000 - $55,700**
Cooks, Chefs, and Bartenders
Casinos usually provide a place for their customers to grab a drink or a bite to eat in between placing bets. Options available at casinos can range from chain restaurants to high quality five star dining establishments. For this reason, casinos always seek out people with experience in the food and beverage industry such as bartenders, cooks, and chefs. They offer a range of opportunities for people with all levels of experience.
Cooks and Bartenders: $18,000 - $30,000*
Chefs: $40,000 - $110,000*
Professional Gambler
Most people may not consider gambling a profession, but in fact, plenty of people earn a pretty lucrative living as a professional gambler in different areas such as poker, blackjack, horse racing, and sports betting. This job isn’t easy though. Professional gamblers require an in depth understanding of the odds with years of practice in calculating the odds and managing bets. The average salary for such a profession really depends on the skill level, but the most successful players can earn millions each year. For example, the 2013 World Series of Poker champion, Ryan Riess took home $8 million for the top prize.
Average Salary: 25,000 - $250,000+
Casino careers go far beyond this short list of examples. Jobs in casinos also include positions in marketing, security, hospitality, or working for casino equipment suppliers. Not to mention the emerging online casino market which has casino careers for programmers, marketing experts, croupiers, and other professions to help run the gambling site.
Interested in working at a casino? Check out our list of land based casinos in the United States and the United Kingdom.
For more info on the jobs for online and regular casino employees click here.
Sources: *based on 2013 US Department of Labor statistics **http://www1.salary.com ***http://www.indeed.com/salary/q-Casino-Accountant-l-Las-Vegas,-NV.html
