Become a Croupier

There has never been a better time to become a croupier (an attendant at a gaming table).

New government legalisation has liberalised the gaming industry, meaning more casinos are likely to be built throughout the UK, and a huge ‘super casino’ has been earmarked for Blackpool. The country’s 6,000 existing certified gaming staff members are likely to be joined by a host of new recruits.

Croupiers and dealers throw dice, spin the roulette wheel and deal cards. Work includes checking that all gambling chips are placed on the table before the start of play, explaining the rules to players, collecting chips from losing bets, keeping a look out for cheats, and mentally calculating payouts to winners. Croupiers have to work quickly and maintain concentration for long periods. An understanding of the different games, from poker to craps and roulette, is vital.

Croupiers need a range of skills to be good at their job. They must be calm, tactful, presentable, good with people and skilled at defusing tension. They often relish being the centre of attention. It is essential to be numerate and able to make quick mental calculations.

Most croupiers are under 35 years old, but age is no barrier to entry.

Formal academic qualifications are not necessary, although there are some courses that give an introduction to the sector. For example, Blackpool and Fylde College offers an Advanced Diploma in Casino Operations. The course lasts for 12 weeks and starts with intensive training in croupier skills, focusing on roulette, blackjack and poker. A BSc (Hons) Business Economics with Gambling Studies degree is available at Salford University.

Contact casinos directly for details of trainee vacancies. You can find a listing on the British Casino Association’s website.

At an interview, you may be asked to pass a mental arithmetic test to show that you can calculate odds and payments. If accepted, you’ll be paid to take an on-the-job training course lasting six to eight weeks. To work on a gaming floor you need a gaming licence, awarded by the Gaming Board of Great Britain.

You cannot work if you have a criminal record, and checks on your background will be carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Croupiers generally work shifts, which are often 2pm to 10pm and 10pm to 6am. This will include weekends and bank holidays. Casinos are smoky environments, and workers can expect to be on their feet for long periods.

Croupiers’ pay starts at around £18,000 in London and £12,000 to £13,000 in the rest of the UK.

After two years’ work experience, it’s possible to apply to work on cruise ships or in the top casinos in Monte Carlo and Las Vegas. Competition is stiff and you will have to pass an ‘audition’. To work in Europe foreign languages are essential.

Once experienced, a croupier can progress to being a gaming inspector, who manages two dealing tables. Inspectors check compliance with company procedures and standards and with the Gaming Act. They look out for suspicious behaviour, act as initial arbiters of any disputes with players, and check that large payouts are justified and correct. Inspectors work under the direction of a ‘pit boss’.