Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners: Career Profile
Post information enabling patrons to wager on various races and sporting events. Assist in the operation of games such as keno and bingo. May operate random number-generating equipment and announce the numbers for patrons. Receive, verify, and record patrons' wagers. Scan and process winning tickets presented by patrons and pay out winnings for those wagers.
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What Do Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of gambling and sports book writers and runners span:
- Collect bets in the form of cash or chips, verifying and recording amounts.
- Collect cards or tickets from players.
- Compute and verify amounts won or lost, paying out winnings or referring patrons to workers, such as gaming cashiers, so that winnings can be collected.
- Answer questions about game rules or casino policies.
What Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Need to Know
Successful gambling and sports book writers and runners rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Bet Taker
- Betting Clerk
- Bingo Caller
- Bingo Clerk
- Bingo Floater
- Bingo Worker
- Bookie
- Bookmaker
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 313,328 gambling and sports book writers and runners working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -4.3% over the projection horizon.
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,257 |
| Hourly median | $25.12 |
| 10th percentile | $33,442 |
| 25th percentile | $42,850 |
| 75th percentile | $61,665 |
| 90th percentile | $71,073 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $53,120 |
| Massachusetts | $45,690 |
| Wisconsin | $44,820 |
| Washington | $39,970 |
| New Jersey | $39,800 |
| Michigan | $36,310 |
| Kentucky | $36,210 |
| Iowa | $35,940 |
| Indiana | $35,540 |
| California | $35,440 |
| Minnesota | $34,440 |
| Maryland | $33,610 |
| Illinois | $33,560 |
| Colorado | $32,880 |
| Connecticut | $32,640 |
| South Carolina | $32,050 |
| North Carolina | $31,760 |
| Nevada | $30,490 |
| West Virginia | $29,740 |
| South Dakota | $29,170 |
| Oklahoma | $29,080 |
| Texas | $28,670 |
| Ohio | $28,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,810 |
| Mississippi | $27,530 |
| North Dakota | $26,180 |
| Florida | $25,940 |
| Nebraska | $25,580 |
| Louisiana | $25,210 |
| Montana | $22,220 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,050 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for gambling and sports book writers and runners vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $42,272 | 4.8% | 0.37 |
| Great Lakes | $34,689 | 6.8% | 0.42 |
| Far Western US | $33,255 | 32.0% | 8.00 |
| New England | $32,640 | 0.7% | 0.44 |
| Plains States | $30,946 | 17.5% | 3.84 |
| Southwest | $28,821 | 18.9% | 2.45 |
| Southeast | $27,892 | 18.6% | 2.13 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $22,050 | 0.7% | 0.88 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $53,120 | 160 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $46,780 | |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $40,340 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $36,400 | 100 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $36,140 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $36,030 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $35,420 | 150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $34,610 | 70 |
Which Industries Hire Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
The largest employers of gambling and sports book writers and runners are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5,360 | $29,080 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,400 | $33,280 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 660 | $30,510 |
Below are examples of industries where gambling and sports book writers and runners work:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of gambling and sports book writers and runners tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Physical Proximity
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Typical gambling and sports book writers and runners positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Gambling Managers (Primary-Short)
- Athletes and Sports Competitors (Supplemental)
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials (Primary-Long)
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers (Primary-Short)
- Gambling Dealers (Primary-Short)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants (Primary-Long)
- Cashiers (Primary-Long)
Sources
Data on this page comes from 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: 39-3012.00 (Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners).