So you want to be a poker dealer?

This double rainbow greeted me as I drove to the Playboy play days.
It's not often that you see a rainbow in the desert. This was the first time since I moved to Las Vegas that I saw a double one.








Several times a month I receive inquiries about moving to Las Vegas and/or becoming a poker dealer. Each email is some variation of the basic question.

Here is one such email (minor editing to protect the innocent)

Hey, I am not sure if you remember me. You probably do not. I read your blog regularly and I emailed you hoping I could run into you while playing at the Palms a few months ago, but I wasn't able to make it over there. It was my brother's 21st and he was more interested in playing low dollar blackjack.

Anyway, I was emailing you because I was looking for some guidance and you seemed like the best guy to go to for this kind of guidance. I am considering dealing. Though the industry has always fascinated me, I am not sure dealing is where I want to be long-term. I was looking for a place to work until I get the start of my "dream career" (wherever that is) and it may be a while. It seems like dealing might be a fairly enjoyable to make a living.

I was wondering if there was a particular dealing school you think I should check out. I am going to look at a couple tomorrow. Also, for someone in my shoes, would it be better to shell out for poker or work the regular pit with blackjack? I know there is a current (over?)saturation of poker rooms in the area, so maybe there is an oversaturation of poker dealers. Do candidates with a handle on the game, who are articulate, and have a personality sometimes get auditions with higher end casinos right out of dealing school? Is it a hard and fast rule that they start out in "break-in" joints for the first 6-12 months?

If you have any other advice, I would love to hear it. I get this vibe that you are a wealth of information. Based on your blog, you seem like someone who will give it to me straight and not sugar coat anything about the industry (at least not too much) and that is why I trust your advice. I hope I hear from you soon, and thank you very much.

Signed,
Las Vegas Bound


My reply: (note that this was written a week or so ago when I was stressing too much)

Dear Las Vegas Bound,

You would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't be) how many people ask questions similar to yours. I'd guess that I get this type of email 3-4 times per month.
The first issue that I would like to address is your thinking that this would be a fairly enjoyable way to make a living.....until your dream career comes along..
Beware! If you land a decent dealing job you will likely be trapped in it until hell freezes over. Honestly, the money is too good relative to other possible occupations. Let's face it, it's not rocket science and it's not laying roofing in 115 degree heat. You sit on your ass and toss cards at/to people. Of course that is an over simplification, but I'm sure you understand where I am coming from.
Another major issue to consider is this. A small percentage of poker players are degenerate assholes. Actually a large percentage are degenerate and a small percentage are royal assholes. This is true in any situation where you deal with the public, but I can't stress enough how truly crappy it is to have to deal to/with the same small group of pain in the asses day in and day out--over and over again. Don't these people have lives? Of course they don't. They are insignificant people who get their jollies by trying to make your work day a living hell. It's likely the only time they get to have center stage. Again, this is a very small portion of the poker playing public, but how you are able to handle them will make all the difference and dictate how enjoyable your job is or can be. IF you are able to secretely laugh at them and wonder how a person got to be so bitter you'll be fine. If you let it bother you at all, your f%&ked.
I'm at a point right now where I can't begin to tolerate their antics. I get like that from time to time.
Fortunately the vast majority of players are kind and generous.

You asked about dealing schools and poker versus pit.
My only experience with them consisted of 6 days (about 2 hours per day) of poker school. I went to Aces Full on East Sahara. My instructor no longer works there. In fact, he deals at the Palms. I also believe that the owner of that school passed away. Consequently, I really can't tell you much about the present situation there. As for pit vs. poker. Tough call. Poker jobs are not easy to come by in this town at this time. Unfortunatly I can't tell you anything about the pit job market. I'm simply not in that loop.

You don't have to go to school to deal poker and you don't necessarily have to start in a break-in house.
You will need to work with someone regarding procedures such as the rake etc. Having played the game is a huge plus, but playing it and dealing it are not even close to the same skill set. Yes, the poker scene is over saturated with both tables and dealers. Unless you have some juice it's simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. You will likely have to beat the streets. Find a few rooms that you generally like and that you are comfortable playing in. Make yourself known. Don't be an ass while playing. Introduce yourself to the shift managers/ poker room manager/dealers. You never know who knows someone or knows of an opening.
Having said that, I recently rented my spare bedroom to a guy who came to town with the desire to deal poker. He scoured the web sites. He put in applications. He played poker around town. He talked to people. He even had some poker dealing experience as he had dealt in private games back east.
It was all for nothing and he has since moved back east. For three solid weeks he was in search of the job. Nothing was happening. Maybe he didn't give it enough time. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered how long he tried. Maybe he could have ended up with an oncall position where he might work one or two days a week. Maybe not.

That's a long way to get to this point. It's not a good time to be looking for a poker dealing job in Las Vegas.

On the other hand, you might find yourself with a poker dealing job within days. I'll take the over, but it's possible.

I wish that I could paint a more positive picture for you. It wouldn't be fair for me to do that, though. Before you make a huge move you need to look at it with eyes wide open.


The industry as a hole (certainly not poker specifically) has always fascinated me also. Somewhere in the back of my mind I always knew that I would end up in Las Vegas at some point in my life. I love the history and the lore. I've now been there and done that. Where I go from here is anyones guess. That last sentence surely sounds strange coming from someone who just bought a condo here. It would appear that I am going to be here for awhile. It's a tough town for me because I have an addictive personality and it manifests itself when I sit in front of a machine. I'm smart enough to know that you can't win in the long run, but too stupid to quit trying.

Perhaps the bottom line is that life is too short to not give it a try. Would you always regret it if you didn't? Are you in a position in your life where a few "wasted" months would be that bad if it didn't all work out? Could you financially withstand it? Do you have family obligations or are you single and winging it? All things to consider.

Please get back to me with your continued thoughts on the matter.

Best Regards,
Murph


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We've added a bad beat jackpot at the Palms.
Aces full of tens qualifies.

I'll post the details soon.