Ran into a buddy on a recent trip who used to work as a waiter/etc. in Vegas for years, stated around the WSOP he was able to "audition" twice (failed the first), and was given a dealing job for the summer. He even admitted that he had never dealt before.

Is he pulling my leg or is the demand high enough that there is some way around having a dealing license due to demand?

I should state that prior to this I am assuming he did not have any license however had probably worked in/adjacent to casino as a guide or hotel employee.

*Essentially, as a galvanized underground dealer with 10+ years exp, confident in 13-game mix, is summer work in vegas about who you know or are you paying some amount up front to obtain license and then hired for high demand times*

Thanks

Didn't you ask exactly that same question in the Las Vegas Lifestyle forum not that long ago?

After speaking to a mod, and seeing that Bobby's breakroom has a few Vegas dealers (that have not answered in LVL), I decided to post somewhere that may get an answer from an actual dealer in the market I am asking about, rather than player stories about dealers they met.

Licensing is something that you deal with after you get hired. I'm sure it happens but I've actually never heard of anyone getting denied a license in Nevada. There is a fee but it's under $100 if I remember correctly and I don't even think you have to wait after applying. You fill out an online form and are allowed to work.

Yes there is a huge need for dealers this time of year. The problem you'd run into is that they've already done their auditions, HR onboarding, training, and uniform stuff so it's more work for them to bring on new people, especially those who have not worked in a casino or tournament series before.

This group has the guy who does the WSOP hiring and many past and present WSOP dealers who know a lot about other rooms that might be hiring for the summer:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WSOPdealers

Ok, thank you for the information! I will check out this group.

Everyone who applies gets hired. They literally hire anyone. Their “auditions” aren’t even done in person anymore, it’s just a 5min phone call. You will not find worse dealers anywhere in the world. Every year I play there I cannot believe how bad a majority of them are.

IMO if you are persistent, you will find work somewhere. You are behind a 'normal' timeline yes, so your first shifts may suck, be scattered, and/or short . .or all of the above. But if you really do have talent it should be spotted and taken advantage of via (hopefully) Floors noticing and passing on the word.

I would definitely start with 'Shoe/Paris since they have the largest increase in pure volume of Dealers needed. Wynn/Venetian/Aria do increase staff, but it will be a much lower % comparted to their normal yearly staff.

Best Dealer story out of Vegas was Resorts World .. (Obv new) Dealer pushed in and was told what was in the tray what the rake was and left alone. Dealer said "I'm not sure what rake is, so I'm not going to take any!" GL


PS .. None of the Dealers that are currently working the 'tours' and/or have worked WSOP Summers have ever come back 'not happy' about the money. Obv live cheap and take on as much as you can .. the 8 weeks will fly by

Much appreciated info, I found the online app, it was still open for these spots, and I am going to try and get a hold of my buddy and see if a reference/vouch would help.

Literally anybody.

I played less than three hours of cash at WSOP the other day and had two different dealers not understand how a missed blind works. A few others can get by but it's clear they don't have a ton of experience. Most good dealers already have gigs elsewhere and don't want to go deal the series because either;

1) The idea of dealing tournaments (which on average pay worse than cash games) in the desert in the middle of summer doesn't sound like a fun time, or

2) Their employer doesn't let somebody take six weeks off to go to the same job for a different company, potentially a competitor, or

3) Both

There are a lot of good to exceptional dealers there, too. They just need to hire too many dealers to be picky. There's not much they can do about it so to blame the WSOP isn't fair. They either take in subpar dealers or they cap events.

As far as a license goes, it varies state to state but it's pretty easy to get one in about an hour as long as you have $100 and no felonies on your record.