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Career

Gambling Dealers

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $34,320 Median per year · $16.50/hr Most earn $24,040–$77,090

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Deal cards to house hands, and compare these with players' hands to determine winners, as in black jack.
  • Greet customers and make them feel welcome.
  • Conduct gambling games, such as dice, roulette, cards, or keno, following all applicable rules and regulations.
  • Work as part of a team of dealers in games, such as baccarat or craps.
  • Start and control games and gaming equipment, and announce winning numbers or colors.
  • Compute amounts of players' wins or losses, or scan winning tickets presented by patrons to calculate the amount of money won.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 13,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Casino hotels39.1%
  • Gambling industries (except casino hotels)26.4%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals26.4%
  • Self-employed (their own business)4.1%
  • Spectator sports2.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Gambling dealer is an entry-level job that usually needs only a high school diploma, plus a bit of related work experience. Most people spend roughly 6 months to a year in an entry role at a casino before they start dealing.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school. It is the usual education requirement for this job, and strong math and people skills help at the table.

  2. Gambling Change Person and Booth Cashier

    6 months to 1 year

    Work at a casino cage or change booth handling chips and cash. This teaches you casino money handling, rules, and how a gaming floor runs, which is the experience dealers typically have before they start.

  3. Gambling Dealer

    Ongoing

    Run table games like blackjack or roulette, dealing cards or equipment, paying winners, and collecting losing bets. Dealers often learn the specific games on the job or through a casino's training.

Where it can lead

  1. First-Line Supervisor of Gambling Services Workers

    1-2 years of experience first

    Move from dealing to overseeing a shift of dealers, handling schedules, customer problems, and rule questions. This usually takes reliable work, good attendance, and showing you can lead others.

  2. Gambling Manager

    2-4 years of experience first

    Manage gaming operations, staff, budgets, and compliance for a section or the whole casino. Moving up typically means building supervisor experience and learning the business side of gaming.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math classesQuick mental math and probability help with counting chips, paying bets, and understanding how table games work.
  • Get a part-time job that handles money or customersA cashier or food service job builds the speed, accuracy, and calm service that casino work needs.
  • Join a debate, drama, or public speaking clubSpeaking clearly and keeping a friendly tone with strangers are key skills for dealers.
  • Learn basic card games and their rulesKnowing games like blackjack or poker helps you understand what players are asking for at the table.

In college

  • Take courses in statistics or businessStatistics explains how casino games work, and business courses help if you later move into supervision or management.
  • Work a customer-facing or cash-handling jobRetail, hospitality, or cashier work builds the money-handling and customer skills that casinos look for.
  • Ask about casino jobs in your areaVisit or contact local casinos to learn their entry roles and how they train dealers, and whether they require a minimum age or license.
  • Join a hospitality or customer service student groupLeadership roles in clubs show the teamwork and people skills that help you move up to supervisor.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for entry jobs at casinos, like change person, cage, or attendant roles, and ask managers how dealers are trained and hired.
  • Practice counting money quickly and accurately, and stay calm and friendly when people are losing. Dealers are judged heavily on both.
  • Check the age and licensing rules in your state or area, since many casinos and gaming jurisdictions set minimum ages and require gaming licenses.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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