Gambling Dealers: Career Profile
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.
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What Tasks Do Gambling Dealers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of gambling dealers cover:
- Pay winnings or collect losing bets as established by the rules and procedures of a specific game.
- Greet customers and make them feel welcome.
- Exchange paper currency for playing chips or coin money.
- Check to ensure that all players have placed bets before play begins.
- Inspect cards and equipment to be used in games to ensure that they are in good condition.
- Deal cards to house hands, and compare these with players' hands to determine winners, as in black jack.
- Stand behind a gaming table and deal the appropriate number of cards to each player.
- Apply rule variations to card games such as poker, in which players bet on the value of their hands.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful gambling dealers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Baccarat Dealer
- Big Six Dealer
- Black Jack Dealer
- Blackjack Dealer
- Card Dealer
- Card Game Operator
- Card Grader
- Casino Dealer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 447,940 gambling dealers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +13.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Gambling Dealers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $29,554 |
| Hourly median | $14.21 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $24,553 |
| 75th percentile | $34,556 |
| 90th percentile | $39,557 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $59,040 |
| Arizona | $57,590 |
| Washington | $49,450 |
| Kansas | $44,030 |
| Delaware | $43,420 |
| Texas | $39,990 |
| Ohio | $39,370 |
| Michigan | $38,660 |
| West Virginia | $38,000 |
| New Jersey | $36,560 |
| Florida | $36,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,130 |
| Virginia | $35,740 |
| New York | $34,660 |
| South Dakota | $34,660 |
| Connecticut | $34,080 |
| California | $33,420 |
| Maryland | $33,240 |
| Louisiana | $31,830 |
| Illinois | $30,230 |
| Colorado | $29,990 |
| Indiana | $29,710 |
| Oregon | $28,980 |
| North Dakota | $27,900 |
| New Mexico | $26,710 |
| New Hampshire | $26,210 |
| South Carolina | $26,090 |
| Missouri | $25,720 |
| Minnesota | $25,360 |
| Nevada | $24,060 |
| Mississippi | $23,970 |
| Iowa | $22,900 |
| Oklahoma | $22,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,020 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for gambling dealers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $39,144 | 6.0% | 1.32 |
| Great Lakes | $35,628 | 10.2% | 0.87 |
| Middle Atlantic | $35,611 | 13.0% | 1.08 |
| Southeast | $32,070 | 13.8% | 2.27 |
| Far Western US | $30,961 | 48.9% | 10.83 |
| Rocky Mountains | $29,990 | 0.7% | 0.34 |
| Plains States | $27,165 | 6.3% | 1.53 |
| New England | $26,210 | 0.4% | 0.89 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | AZ | $51,990 | 310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $50,760 | 2,510 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | MS | $43,940 | 1,730 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $42,830 | 100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $40,220 | 1,260 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | FL | $38,870 | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $37,130 | 2,360 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $37,040 | 490 |
Industry Breakdown
Most gambling dealers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 45,110 | $29,850 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 35,370 | $35,240 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 80 | $34,100 |
Gambling Dealers work in the following industries:
Software Gambling Dealers Use
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Apache Spark (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Slack (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for gambling dealers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How to Become Gambling Dealers
Most gambling dealers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Gambling Managers (Primary-Short)
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products (Supplemental)
- Athletes and Sports Competitors (Supplemental)
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials (Supplemental)
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers (Primary-Short)
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (Primary-Short)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for gambling dealers typically earn programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on 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: 39-3011.00 (Gambling Dealers).
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