How much do casino dealers make? Read a comparison between a land-based and an online casino dealer. Get to know what factors influence the pay too.
How Much Do Casino Dealers Make?
Working in the casino industry is a mix and match of glamour, thrill, and lots of fun. As one who has been an active player at ice casino for the last two years and working in the land-based industry for more than 10, I can tell you it’s one of the best jobs ever.
For players, this is a place they come to have fun. For employees, be it the pit boss, manager, bartender, security guard, coin loader, or cashier, you get to interact with thousands of people, have fun and make money in the process.
It’s not just the fun and excitement that make working at the casino fun. The pay is also generous. This is especially true for dealers. They are some of the most paid people at the casinos, some even surpassing the pit bosses and cashiers.
How much exactly are they paid? There are so many factors that determine one’s pay. This is what this article is all about. We compare the compensation for land-based and online casinos and the factors influencing this compensation.
Land-Based Casino Dealers
While the amount of money one earns at the casino depends on the organization, other factors determine how much one makes as a dealer. One such factor is your experience dealing.
Novice dealers are usually paid low compared to intermediate and more experienced ones. Even at the lowest/entry-level, there are still tiers on the pay grade you are enrolled in. It’s from here that most dealers work their way up to the higher tiers.
To calculate the amount you’ll be paid per annum, we also have to consider the number of working hours you put in. Unfortunately, no casino will give you a 40-hour-a-week shift, regardless of how good you are at your work.
With these points in mind, we can say the salary of a live dealer at a small casino can earn anything between $20,000 to $25,000 per annum. Mid-tier casinos pay their dealers slightly better, with a salary range of between $25,000 to $40,000. If you are lucky to land in a big casino with an international reputation, you can earn as much as $100,000, especially if you are an experienced dealer.
Of course, when I talk about these numbers, I’m talking about the salary. Some dealers can take home more than $200,000 per annum or more after receiving tips and other work-related bonuses. Depending on the casino you are working in and the players who visit, you can receive hefty tips, especially when the tables are packed.
These tips are also left depending on how you interact with some of these players. High rollers, or those known to spend big sums at the casinos, can tip as much as $5,000 in one sitting, especially if they are happy with your service.
Online Casino Dealers
Online casino dealers are different from land-based dealers, but their services are pretty much the same. The work of a dealer online is to deal cards, spin the roulette wheels, roll the dice and perform other functions depending on the game. Many must be physically located at the game studios or where the streams are hosted.
Therefore, the salary you receive may be influenced by aspects such as the living cost of the country you are in. In Malta, for example, dealers can get paid as much as $100/hr as their base salary. Then the studio can throw in monthly performance bonuses, which vary depending on several aspects.
Of course, there are those who will be assigned to the VIP or high roller tables. If you find yourself in such a situation, you can rest assured the pay will be much better, with less work.
Most of the VIPs will be assigned to one dealer whose role is to tend to their needs specifically. If you find yourself in this category, it’s usually best to give the VIP top-class service so that he/she can rate you highly and leave hefty tips.
One point to note is that a player isn’t obliged to tip you. Of course, it’s good practice, just as it is to tip a waiter who has done a good job, but it is not a must.
So, Should You Become a Live Dealer?
Honestly, being a live dealer isn’t as perfect as it may seem. There are challenges that are associated with the work. This is especially true if you find a superior who breathes down on your neck or serves unpolite and rude players who always want to win.
But on your end, it’s up to you to develop the right attitude, skill, and experience to make it to the top. While some of the land-based casinos may not offer the best pay, it helps to know you can graduate to the online sphere after acquiring the necessary tips and start getting better pay.
Plus, if one of your gifts is interacting with people nicely, then this may be the right job for you. You may end up getting paid more through tips than the bonuses and salary you receive.