How Much Do Casino Dealers Make?

Written by Sophia Novakivska |
Reviewed by Mark Dash
July 16, 2024
1819 Views
How Much Do Casino Dealers Make?

I was always fascinated about casino dealers: usually, they are nice young girls and handsome guys with a smile on their faces who are willing to entertain players around-the-clock. This is why I decided to study the topic of what it takes to be a dealer and how much they earn. 

According to this webpage, famous casino sites in New Zealand, like Jackpoty and Winawin have the widest range of live dealer games that are available 24/7 for players. Some of these sites offer thousands of dollars in welcome bonuses. So I wonder how much dealers make. I discovered that casino dealers earn a salary depending on their experience level and tips, which make up a significant portion of their income. Through this article, I will take a closer look at the type of salary croupiers can earn and whether the role is worth doing.

Salary

The average base salary of a croupier in the United States will typically be around $20,000 to $35,000 per year. 

The national average earnings of a casino dealer is $14,700 per year not taking tips into account. In most cases, casinos will offer croupiers minimum pay which is $7 to $8 per hour as the starting base pay. New dealers will generally work at tables that get the least gamblers until they improve their dealer skills. Once they have gained a level of experience, they will move on to tables with more visitors. It is possible for casino dealers to work their way up the career ladder and become supervisors or pit managers. 

A casino dealer’s salary can depend a lot on the hours they work. You have to remember that night shifts are the busiest times in a casino. There will be more customers playing during the night shift and more money to be earned. If you compare this with the morning shift when everything is languid, there are not many clients gambling; you can understand where dealers earn their money. The morning shift is usually when new dealers will be used to practice their skills and gain experience. Once a casino dealer has gained the appropriate expertise and skills, they will have the opportunity to work a night shift. 

Busy seasons are tough times for casino dealers but on the other hand, it is the most profitable time. In the off-season, when things are slow and there are not many customers, they can choose to either leave the shift or work the same hours and earn their regular salary. Usually, croupiers work for one hour at a table and have a twenty-minute break before they go back to the table. 

Tips

Tips play a large part in a casino dealer’s salary and are very important to dealers. Tips can vary depending on the clientele the casino dealer is serving, as well as the dealer’s personality and skills. The type of casino game can also bring different types of tips. In some cases, casino dealers can make up to 171,000 NZD per year. Casino dealers can make up to 80,000 NZD a year

Location

Working in the best locations plays a big part in how much you can earn as a casino dealer. The dealers that operate from Las Vegas and Atlantic City, which are both gambling hot beds, will earn larger salaries. This is due to the amount of gamblers they will serve and the high roller tips these cities bring. Those casino dealers working in smaller cities at smaller casinos will earn less. 

Experience

As with every type of job, experience can determine how much you will earn. The more seasoned and experienced casino dealers who have worked on their craft and skills will likely earn more money. Large casinos prefer to employ casino dealers who understand their role and offer a quality service to their customer base. You will also find that the best-skilled casino dealers will be in demand to work at high-stakes poker games. This is where dealers can earn very large tips, which can make a big difference to their annual income. 

Employment Type

It is pretty obvious that full-time casino dealers will earn a more consistent income than part-time dealers or on-call dealers. You will find that part-time dealers will have fluctuations in their earnings based on the hours they work. 

The Pros and Cons of Being a Casino Dealer

If you are considering getting into gambling industry, you may want to weight in all the pros and cons of being an online casino dealer:

Pros

  • Flexible working hours
  • Lots of social interaction
  • Potential for good earnings
  • Career Advancement
  • Ability to work anywhere

Cons

  • You will probably have to work night shifts
  • You may receive abuse 
  • The shift may be slow
  • You may not get many tips
  • Can be repetitive
  • High-pressure environment

What Does it Take to Be a Casino Dealer?

A casino dealer, also known as a croupier, is responsible for managing casino games like blackjack, baccarat, poker, and roulette. The duties a casino dealer must undertake are dealing with the cards, managing bets, game oversight, payouts, interacting with customers, and ensuring the security and integrity of the game. Casino dealers generally work in a loud, lively environment, and they work long hours. In most cases, a casino dealer will work nights, weekends, and holidays as casinos operate around the clock 24/7, 365 days a year. 

It can be a physically demanding job, which requires long periods of standing and repetitive motions. Despite the obvious challenges, casino dealers often enjoy the interaction and the social aspect of their jobs. There are opportunities to land large tips the more friendly and skilled you become at the art of dealing. Because of this, many casino dealers love what they do. They earn a basic income, but through tips that come their way, they have the chance to earn good money.

Author Sophia Novakivska

Sophia Novakivska is a Kyiv-born linguist who has spent ten years auditing casinos, writing 300+ guides, and mastering slot math for Dashtickets.nz. After translating tech manuals, she produced content for iGaming.com, AskGamblers, Gambling.com, and BetterCollective, then earned a UKGC-approved certificate in Responsible Gambling (2022). Today she combines on-site game demos with regulatory deep dives to flag hidden fees and highlight truly fair RTPs for New Zealand players. About Sophia Novakivska | X (Twitter): @SNovakivska | Portfolio & Contact

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *