Quote:
Originally Posted by Reducto
Worst case you can do what many of us do to get started - work at the WSOP. For all its problems it's a great crash course in dealing every type of poker and you'll make decent money. Unfortunately it's 9 months away and you might not want to wait that long.
YES YES YES - however they will want you to have proper training from a school or recognized instructor. I went out to WSOP after school and dealing part time for about 6 months (though I had previous experience but not in a standard poker room). I came back a much much better dealer. Went again in 2015 which lead to this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by viks
Lastly, the job of a poker dealer, when done correctly, looks effortless. It takes lots or practice, study, and dedication to do this job in a way that makes it look like it's easy.
I actually got a real cool comment from one of the charity people the other day where they said I made it look effortless and it was really cool watching me deal
Which seems cheesy but it was nice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by viks
1. Do not mention this at any point during interview. In the state of OK it is a felony to host a homegame and a misdemeanor to participate in one regardless if a rake is taken or not. Many people do participate in homegames and the law is very rarely enforced, but gaming employees still have an obligation to hold this against you.
3. This is a good skill to have as long as you are using the correct formula. Some poker players think they understand pot size betting but are often wrong. I'm not saying you are doing it right or wrong, just double check what you think to be correct with a current dealer.
1- agree - no gaming control board wants to ever hear about this let alone a casino
3- yes, and know that a lot of times cash games and tournaments do these differently, in how the consider the small blind
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigfishead
I've NEVER seen a dealer out of school I would hire. EVER.
The best "tip" I can give? Forget you ever thought about dealing poker.
In today's poker world, the money is not very good.
Most poker rooms are in real casino's thus run by corporate casino companies like MGM, Caesars, Stations, Boyd, etc. As such, one can expect 5+ yrs of part time no benefits status. Do you really want to do that to yourself?
I do not think this is true by any means
as long as you are not locked down in your current location. Good poker dealers can make a good living these days, ESPECIALLY if you live in a poker rich state or like to travel. You may want to consider moving if you think the situation will be as described above where you live. There are plenty of states that have just poker rooms where you can thrive: Michigan, Florida, California just for starters.
In Michigan a good poker dealer will make $50k a year, with a good chunk of it probably not taxed, and this at the charity rooms. No benefits though but at that price you can get cheap insurance yourself.
In Florida I know a husband and wife team of dealers - he makes average $50-60k a year and she makes $60k+ and is at Tampa Downs so she gets benefits (now truth be told she is really attractive so that helps (and of course a GREAT dealer)). She told me she had a $91k year at 35 hours a week, again with benefits. It only took them several years to get to this point.
People who travel the circuits (WSOP, WPT, HPT, etc...) can make great money as well. I have heard if you do enough gigs you can make over $70k a year. Lots of travel though, if you like that then great. This is a job you can do after your first WSOP in Vegas, as long as you shine and work the system a little to get noticed, may take two trips.
You can also work other gigs in Vegas during WSOP - lots of other casinos hire temp dealers. I know a few guys that work at PH and WSOP during that time, lots of hours, lots of money.
Yes, dealing poker well is tough work, it takes time but it seems like you want to take that time to get good. Its a career choice so there will be growing pains. Casino poker dealing jobs are hard to get in non-poker rich states, but if you are willing to move around then its gets much much easier. I know a few who did WSOP twice and then never left Vegas. All are now working in casinos 30-40 hours a week with benefits, one is even a floor at Harrahs.
You should go to school, hopefully there is one close by, or get an instructor that works in the biz - maybe move for this too
You wont get rich dealing poker, unless you somehow get lucky enough that enough people die and you can score a gig at Aria's, and others, high stakes games and what not in 10 years. But $50k - $70k a year for (what will become) a very easy job for you to do, well into your later years, that is a ton of fun - is well worth it!....but you have to be willing to work hard and perhaps move or travel.