Can anyone answer this question for me? If any of you know of someone that works as a blackjack dealer at a casino in Vegas, please tell me about how much they make. I would appreciate all answers. Thanks

 

Casinos are glamorous places for everybody but the staff. Obviously I'm not in your neck of the woods but we do have a large casino owned by an American company where I live. I've met quite a few croupiers over the last ten years and can tell you it's not a high paying job (at least here anyway). Most I've met have been on an award (basic) wage of sorts. Maybe the head croupiers that oversee the teams fare slightly better.

 

I believe it depends on the casino. From what they told me is they make minumum wage, then at the end of the week or month, they take all the tips and divide them up between the dealers. So dealers at high limit tables wouldn't get more money.

So when you tip someone $100, they may only get $0.10 of that.

 

I had heard that in vegas they actually make decent money... maybe around 40-60k? It presents an interesting problem there where they pay is good enough to deter people from going to college. IE, with 2 adults working and making 20-60k each, it's not such a bad situation... esp given the cost of living around there isn't too bad right now...

 

My buddy's dad works for a casino in San Jose, CA and seems to do pretty well for himself (and his family). They own their own house in Marin (expensive property county) and get new cars fairly frequently. I attribute any type of success to the tips that are made during the games (and luck and personality attribute to lots of tipping).

I think that all casinos have different compensation structures when it comes to tips, so I don't think that his share is being pooled with others (but it could be and he is just netting very well ).

 

I'm not sure but I think Ash is right. And it costs around $2000 to go through a dealer's school too.

 

I have a few family members that are casino dealers in Vegas. It all depends on where your working. Each casino pays based on Labor Union or Non Labor Union wages. The main difference is tips. Almost 75% of what a dealer makes is based on pooled tips. Tips are generally pooled by all dealers in a given Pit area. The casino actually tallies the tips and splits it out. It also depends on what shift you work/what days you work.

The job is only glamorous to the patron, not the worker.

 

Thanks for all your answers guys. So I guess, 40-60K. I'm not looking to be a career dealer. Just a couple of years, then I want to start my own business. Thanks again guys.

 

so wait a sec? when you toss a tip to someone and they put it in their shirt pocket, they're not really pocketing it? they later have to empty their pockets and the casino "redistributes" it?

how much you want to bet that some of the redistribution ends up in the owners' pockets?

 

Pooled tips, that sucks, they should keep what they get tiped. All that does is reward the shitty dealers. If they knock that out all dealers might look like strippers.

Sam