Gaming industry and casino jobs

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Nature of the work

The majority of all gaming services workers are employed in casinos, and their duties and titles may vary from one establishment to another. Despite differences in job title and task, however, workers perform many of the same basic functions in all casinos. Some positions are associated with oversight and direction -- supervision, surveillance and investigation -- while others involve working with the games or patrons themselves, performing such activities as tending slot machines, handling money, writing and running tickets, and dealing cards or running games.

Gaming supervisors

• Gaming supervisors oversee the gaming operations and personnel in an assigned area.
• Supervisors circulate among the tables and observe the operations to ensure that all of the stations and games are covered for each shift.
• It is not uncommon for gaming supervisors to explain and interpret the operating rules of the house to patrons who may have difficulty understanding the rules.
• Gaming supervisors also may plan and organize activities to create a friendly atmosphere for the guests staying in their hotels or in casino hotels.

Slot attendants

• Slot attendants or slot technicians coordinate and supervise the slot department and its workers.
• Duties include verifying and handling payoff winnings to patrons, resetting slot machines after completing the payoff, and refilling machines with money.
• Slot key persons must be familiar with a variety of slot machines and be able to make minor repairs and adjustments to the machines as needed.
• If major repairs are required, slot key persons determine whether the slot machine should be removed from the floor.
• Working the floor as frontline personnel, attendants enforce safety rules and report hazards.

Gaming dealers

• Gaming dealers operate table games such as craps, blackjack and roulette.
• Dealers provide dice, dispense cards to players and run the equipment.
• Some dealers also monitor the patrons for infractions of casino rules.
• Gaming dealers must be skilled in customer service and in executing their game.
• Dealers determine winners, calculate and pay winning bets and collect losing bets.
• Because of the fast-paced work environment, most gaming dealers are competent in at least two games.

Working conditions

• The atmosphere in casinos is generally filled with fun and often considered glamorous; however, casino work can also be physically demanding.
• Most occupations require that workers stand for long periods; some require the lifting of heavy items.
• The “glamorous” atmosphere exposes casino workers to certain hazards, such as cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke.
• Noise from slot machines, gaming tables, and talking workers and patrons may be distracting to some, although workers wear protective headgear in areas where loud machinery is used to count money.
• Most casinos are open 24 hours a day, seven day a week and offer three staggered shifts.

Training, qualifications and advancement

• There usually are no minimum educational requirements for entry-level gaming jobs, although most employers prefer a high school diploma or GED.
• Entry-level gaming services workers are required to have a license issued by a regulatory agency, such as a state casino control board or commission. Applicants for a license must provide photo identification, offer proof of residency in the state in which they anticipate working, pass a background check and pay a fee.
• Age requirements vary by state.
• In addition to possessing a license, gaming services workers need superior customer service skills.
• Almost all casinos provide some in-house training in addition to requiring certification.
• Gaming services workers who manage money should have some experience handling cash or using calculators or computers.
• Nearly all gaming dealers are certified. Certification is available through two- or four-year programs in gaming or a hospitality-related field.
• Advancement opportunities in casino gaming depend less on workers’ previous casino duties and titles than on their ability and eagerness to learn new jobs.

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