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Gambling Dealers: Career Overview
Operate table games. Stand or sit behind table and operate games of chance by dispensing the appropriate number of cards or blocks to players, or operating other gambling equipment. Distribute winnings or collect players' money or chips. May compare the house's hand against players' hands.
What Tasks Do Gambling Dealers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of gambling dealers span:
- Pay winnings or collect losing bets as established by the rules and procedures of a specific game.
- Greet customers and make them feel welcome.
- Exchange paper currency for playing chips or coin money.
- Check to ensure that all players have placed bets before play begins.
- Inspect cards and equipment to be used in games to ensure that they are in good condition.
- Deal cards to house hands, and compare these with players' hands to determine winners, as in black jack.
- Stand behind a gaming table and deal the appropriate number of cards to each player.
- Apply rule variations to card games such as poker, in which players bet on the value of their hands.
Skills and Knowledge
Top gambling dealers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Gambling Dealers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Baccarat Dealer
- Big Six Dealer
- Black Jack Dealer
- Blackjack Dealer
- Card Dealer
- Card Game Operator
- Card Grader
- Casino Dealer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 447,940 gambling dealers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +13.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Gambling Dealers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $29,554 |
| Hourly median | $14.21 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $24,553 |
| 75th percentile | $34,556 |
| 90th percentile | $39,557 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Gambling Dealers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $59,040 |
| Arizona | $57,590 |
| Washington | $49,450 |
| Kansas | $44,030 |
| Delaware | $43,420 |
| Texas | $39,990 |
| Ohio | $39,370 |
| Michigan | $38,660 |
| West Virginia | $38,000 |
| New Jersey | $36,560 |
| Florida | $36,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,130 |
| Virginia | $35,740 |
| New York | $34,660 |
| South Dakota | $34,660 |
| Connecticut | $34,080 |
| California | $33,420 |
| Maryland | $33,240 |
| Louisiana | $31,830 |
| Illinois | $30,230 |
| Colorado | $29,990 |
| Indiana | $29,710 |
| Oregon | $28,980 |
| North Dakota | $27,900 |
| New Mexico | $26,710 |
| New Hampshire | $26,210 |
| South Carolina | $26,090 |
| Missouri | $25,720 |
| Minnesota | $25,360 |
| Nevada | $24,060 |
| Mississippi | $23,970 |
| Iowa | $22,900 |
| Oklahoma | $22,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,020 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for gambling dealers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $39,144 | 6.0% | 1.32 |
| Great Lakes | $35,628 | 10.2% | 0.87 |
| Middle Atlantic | $35,611 | 13.0% | 1.08 |
| Southeast | $32,070 | 13.8% | 2.27 |
| Far Western US | $30,961 | 48.9% | 10.83 |
| Rocky Mountains | $29,990 | 0.7% | 0.34 |
| Plains States | $27,165 | 6.3% | 1.53 |
| New England | $26,210 | 0.4% | 0.89 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | AZ | $51,990 | 310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $50,760 | 2,510 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | MS | $43,940 | 1,730 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $42,830 | 100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $40,220 | 1,260 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | FL | $38,870 | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $37,130 | 2,360 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $37,040 | 490 |
Which Industries Hire Gambling Dealers
Most gambling dealers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 45,110 | $29,850 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 35,370 | $35,240 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 80 | $34,100 |
Gambling Dealers work in the following industries:
Software Gambling Dealers Use
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Apache Spark (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Slack (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for gambling dealers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
Getting Started in This Career
Typical gambling dealers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Gambling Managers (Primary-Short)
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products (Supplemental)
- Athletes and Sports Competitors (Supplemental)
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials (Supplemental)
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers (Primary-Short)
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (Primary-Short)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring gambling dealers commonly pursue programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-3011.00 (Gambling Dealers).