Casino Industry Jobs
When most people think of casinos, they think of a fun and exciting place to visit where they can try their hand at gambling. If you enjoy the exciting environment of a casino, you may want to consider working at one. In the last several years the number of casinos has increased, and so has the number of casino workers.
The American Gaming Association says that there are now more than 1 million casino employees. But keep in mind that ten years ago there were only 50,000! This is a high-growth industry that needs employees.
Most casino employees work at a gaming table, as a cashier in a gaming cage, as security personnel, supervisors, or as food and beverage servers. Unless the casino is located in a tourist location or resort, most of its business will occur during the evening or on weekends, so employees must work these nontraditional hours. Almost all casino workers interact with guests, so you have to like working with people and be able to provide excellent service.
Here is a list of some of the most common jobs you’ll find at a casino today:
- Booth cashier
- Casino manager
- Cook
- Casino Dealer jobs
- Gambling supervisor
- Game table operator
- Gaming cage worker
- Gaming manager
- Head cashier
- Hotel jobs
- Kitchen staff member
- Security manager
- Security officer
- Security supervisor
- Slot key person
- Slot machine technician
- Wait staff member
In the material below, you’ll see some basic information about obtaining a job in a casino. We’ll take a look at the job outlook, the salary ranges of the most common jobs at a casino, and the education and training required to get one of those jobs.
Employment Outlook
There’s good news and bad news for people seeking jobs in a casino.
Unfortunately, if you want to work as a cashier in a gaming cage or booth, you may have a difficult time finding a job. Casinos are using more electronic equipment to conduct these kinds of cash and game chip transactions, which will save them money. The Bureau predicts a 10% decrease in these jobs by the year 2018.
Salary Outlook
Like any other industry, some positions in casinos pay better than others. Managers can earn the highest salaries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau says the average annual salary of casino managers is approximately $68,000. On the opposite end of the pay scale are dealers, who make approximately $16,000, according to the Bureau.
Gaming supervisors can earn an average annual salary of $45,000, while slot key personnel earn approximately $25,000 per year, according to the Bureau. Other positions like food and beverage servers and kitchen staff members earn an hourly wage that compares to similar positions at other places, usually around minimum wage. However, servers and bartenders also receive tips.
Education and Training Requirements
There’s more to getting a job in a casino than you might think. First, ALL people employed by a casino must obtain a license in their state. To get a license, employees must pass a background check and drug test. Entry level casino jobs do not require a college degree. Many supervisory or management employees may be required to have a college degree, or many years of experience in the field. Some casinos, technical colleges, and other schools provide some training to dealers, teaching them the rules of the games as well as state and federal regulations. However, most dealers must also audition to get a job. They must show they can deal and interact with customers in a way the casino finds favorable.
Once hired, most casino employees receive on-the-job training that is specific to their jobs and/or the casino. Most employers prefer to hire candidates who have previous experience in a gambling establishment.
If you enjoy working with people and the exciting environment of a casino, this may be a great career choice for you. And you may not be gambling that you’ll like it, since job satisfaction tends to run high among casino employees. According to the American Gaming Association, more than 85% of the gaming industry’s employees find their job satisfying.
