Getting Hired as a Casino Dealer in the UK

Heather: Hey Sterling! Greetings from Las Vegas.

Sterling: Hello. How are we doing?

Heather: You’re in the UK aren’t you?

Sterling: I am indeed. Lovely, Lovely summer UK.

Heather: OMG tell me what time it is right now?

Sterling: It is currently 9:00 p.m.

Heather: OMG thank you so much for doing this. Really do appreciate it.

Sterling: No worries thank you.

Heather: Let’s start the show. Welcome back to Vegas Aces livestream. My name is Heather Ferris and I will be your host for today. We are joined with our special guest Sterling. Sterling thank you so much for being on.

Sterling: No worries.

Heather: Really cool to have you on. Really excited about today's episode. Now today we will be talking about how to get a job in the UK. So, really interested about this. We will be talking about two different versions of how you can get a job in the UK. And then we will talk about a few questions and comments and compair getting a job in the UK versus getting it in say Las Vegas.

Now, before we get started if you guys have any questions, comments, suggestions please put them in the chat and I will answer them at the end of this video.

If you are brand new to this channel and this is your first time here, my name is Heather Ferris with Vegas Aces and I am an adjunct professor at UNLV, a content creator, and consultant. I have been involved in the casino industry for over 15 years. I created Vegas Aces as a way to teach people how to play and deal casino table games and as a way to give back to our community we offer a free dealing trade school where we help place dealers at no cost.

Ok, so on with the show. Sterling. So awesome.

Sterling: Hello.

Heather: So awesome to have you on.

Sterling: Pleasure to be here.

Heather: Thank you. Now you have worked in the UK as a casino dealer. So when you’re talking about this -- these are sorta experiences that you have gone through and what you had to do to get a job as a dealer. Should we start off with the first one?

Sterling: Yeah, so the first way that I got into a casino industry, as I mentioned the last time I was on, I just went for a job for a friend and ended up starting as a cashier. Obviously I then got transferred into the training school that the casino was providing. So obviously I have to have the initial interview of like, actually getting the job within the casino.

Heather: So you started off working in the casino in a completely different, other department.

Sterling: Yeah.

Heather: Once you are in the casino in a completely different department, then that makes it easier for you to transfer to the casino department?

Sterling: Yeah. So obviously it was a lot easier for me because, yes I signed my contract saying look I am training to be a cashier, or this that and the other. But obviously talking -- a lot of managers they were quite lenient. They were like, do you know what we’d rather you come talk to us and we can try to sort something out for you. So I was very interested in the dealing aspect. They were like, “Do you know what? We do have training school coming up, we can put you on that.”

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: It was easier to transfer departments rather than having no knowledge of how to deal a game. And just go for the job.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: Sometimes there are job opportunities if you go down to the un-employment office. They may offer, like look, “We can get you a job set up with this casino, you can train to be a dealer, or this that and the other.” So you can sort of either apply to get on to the training school through the employment office or you can apply to be a receptionist within the actual casino. You can apply for different jobs that after a certain amount of time, if you are like, this isn’t for me. I would rather try something else. Thn it is easy to do an internal, internal transfer to a different department.

Heather: Now that is actually something that is exactly the same here in Las Vegas. It is much easier to get a job somewhere else in the casino. Some entry level positions for example. And then once you're in there and you have that entry level position, or any position really, you can transfer to different departments, including the casino department. If you have a casino, let’s say the Hard Rock, this is actually a good example. So when I was a dealer here, I worked at the Hard Rock as a pit clerk. One of the things they told you was, yes you might be a pit clerk, but once you are a pit clerk, we are going to be able to transfer you as a dealer at the Hard Rock. At the time in the early 2000’s -- a long, long, long time ago, Hard Rock was one of the best casinos or the best house for a dealer. So for me to go from a -- I was close to a breakin I think. I was a year or two in of dealing, and then I was going to be a pit clerk -- work as a pit clerk for six months and then transfer as a dealer at the Hard Rock. So that is one way to do it. Now the only reason why I didn’t is because they had some management shake ups so I ended up leaving. But that is one of the ways you can transfer.

Sterling: Yeah. What is a pit clerk?

Heather: A pit clerk is a person that works in the pit, in the casino pit, and they are the ones that do the player ratings. They are the ones that do the running around. They will enter the player ratings into the computer. They will enter in markers into the computer. They do the paperwork for the pit. So it helps the floor supervisors because then the floor supervisors don’t have as much paperwork to do. They can sit there and actually watch the tables a little bit better. However, unfortunately, in 2005 - 2010 that era, pit clerks have sorta been phasing out. The casinos are trying to phase them out and they are giving more work to floor supervisors, without paying them what they really should be.

Sterling: Oh. Oh.

Heather: You know. It was -- the whole 2010’s where you were trying to make people work more than they can. And then you’re trying to pay them the same amount or less. It’s one of those type of things. Let’s make this person do two or three people's jobs and pay them the same amount. You know that type of a thing.

Sterling: I think I ended up doing that.

Heather: You did?

Sterling: Because while I -- during training school, like after we did most of our training. I was contracted 40 hours a week. I was only doing 32 hours of training. So I basically had an extra shift. So it would be a case of, I would learn about the slots for 8 hours. For like a shift. Or I would go work on reception greeting guests and stuff like that. Or I would go work behind the bar. So it was a case of -- they were training like more my training school and afterwards. They were trying to train in all departments. So it was a case of they never realistically had to worry about someone calling in sick from the slot tags. We’ve got these dealers on hand who know what they are doing. Go send one of them.

Heather: Oh ok. Now how big was the casino or the house that you worked in? Was it a small casino? Or was it a big casino?

Sterling: I would say for the city I was in, it was like a decent size. We had six roulette tables, I think about four blackjack tables and a few poker -- like 3 Card Poker tables and we had the VIP Pit --

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: -- which had a roulette table, blackjack table and a 3 card table. So it was relatively sized but honestly we had the poker area, we had a separate slot area, we had our own restaurant with a bar. So it was a big casino but like actual game wise we had a hand full of games to choose from. So it was easy to learn all the games because a lot of them were just your basics. And then you would have some variance - so it is exactly like this game however this rule applies. It’s like all right that’s fair enough. So it was quite easy to pick up the games.

Heather: Now let’s go back a little bit and talk about the dealing trade school. Real quick before we talk about that, in Las Vegas one of the weird things is they do not overlap the departments at all. Once you are in that department, you are in that department. And that includes poker too. Poker has it’s separate department and table games it’s it’s own department. They never transfer the dealers. They never trade the dealers. They are never like...oh this poker dealer can deal blackjack so let’s send them over there. Same thing if we’re a dealer, a casino dealer, we wouldn’t go work in a front desk or reception or go work in like...oh this bartender needs some time off can you bartend? We would never ever -- don’t cross the streams. Never cross the streams.

Sterling: Oh no. In regards in poker, they would have their own poker dealers, however sometimes there would be a case that you may have a dealer who know’s how to deal texas ace. If it's the case, all the tables are filled and you need someone to give poker dealers a break. So it’s still being like a dealer so they can go on a break. And they can break. That dealer can then go back into the pit. So it was sorta ok fair enough. Sometimes you would have dealers covering for poke chefs. So I think that is what we pride ourselves in. The fact that -- yes, this person here is a dealer, but it was sorta seen as good idea. Ok well, he can also do reception, he can do the slots, he can do this, he can do that. So it was then also benefiting us as well, because if it was the case we were transferred to a casino within the company or went to a completely casino. It looked better on us rather than oh I can only deal these games. And then you had another applicant who is like we can deal all these games but we can also do X,Y,Z within the casino itself. It was like helping us build up more of a -- something to put on our CV.

Heather: That makes sense. Totally. Now does everybody do the dealing trade school that goes through there, regardless if they transferred or whether they got hired?

Sterling: So while I worked there, I think there was maybe three training schools. Most of the dealer that came from our own train schools end up working for us. However there was a point where you do have outside training schools where you go pay a certain amount and they teach you the basics really. Whereas inhouse you get taught the basics but also company procedures. Because ultimately each casino is completely different.

Heather: Now for casinos that have dealing trade schools, do you have to pay for them like you have to pay for them when they are not part of the casinos? Or do you have to say work for a year or two, sign a contract and make sure you are there for that amount of time?

Sterling: So, I wouldn’t know how -- So we had a few dealers that came to us that were trained outside of house. Now I don’t know if it is case of they had a side contract saying...hey look you have to stay here for X amount of time, or what? It was more a case with us, who was trained in house, it was a case of if you pass you virtually got a job secured with us. Like you would have a job secured for however long. Until you decide to leave or if you get into a bit of trouble and you get fired. So it was a case of -- what I liked as long as I was inhouse. It was a case of, we’d go on breaks but we would go into the breakroom with other dealers or the members of staff. So you got talking to them and it’s like, you could go ask them...I’m struggling with this, what do you suggest? They are more than happy to be like, yeah that’s fine. So it was like on roulette, because we had ended up paying 11 to 1. I think the street pays 11 to 1. Now obviously math is a big thing. I was ok with math but when it was the case of say 62 pounds on a Street. What is 62 X 11? Rather than going through your head. It was case of using the trick where you just separate it. You have the 6 and 2 and you have a point in the middle making it 682. That is so much simpler than going 6 X 11 is 600 and having to work it out. It was so much easier to just do that quick trick.

Heather: Yes for sure. Now. Oh go ahead.

Sterling: I was going to say on training school as well, we got taught little tips and tricks to just help us get our math quicker and better. So just easier to look at a bet and be like...ok I’ve got roughly this and then work on that.

Heather: So how long was the training school for? Did they make you stay there for a certain amount of time? Or was it until they felt like you got it and then they put you in there?

Sterling: So I think the program -- I think they wanted everyone to sorta get trained with a roughly six to eight weeks. As well depending on licensing time. Like how long it took you to get a license.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: I think I did mine for about six weeks. Technically I never finished my training school, because I was quite good at what I was doing, and I was picking up very quickly. I got my license and my training officer took me into the pit to show me what dealing was like. And just said, “Oh just stand here by the way.” And then ultimately I got told, “Oh new dealer after this spin.” So in this case of I was going on a live game. I just got choked in the deep end. And I panicked, and then it was like -- I had to go on a break. And then it may be a case of do you want to deal this game? So I never technically finished training school. So it was case, of train school started, I joined a week later, but I was dealing before anyone else. I learned all the basics and tsuff like that. I think the last bit of training school was like going over what do you not understand? Is there anything that you are not sure of? Any questions? That kind of thing. I was able to refine those skills.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: So that was quite scary. Live game, getting choked on games. Being just like --

Heather: Did they teach you one game or where they like you have to learn three or four games?

Sterling: So to begin with, at the casino, I think at that point we had four games. Which was just roulette, blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Punto Banco. Now the thing was obviously Punts Banko that was more of a -- once you got a bit more experience, you know what you are doing and stuff like that. We will train you. So we just learned the basic three games, that was it. If we got a new game brought in, it would be a case of, you would have -- especially during night shifts where at 4 o’clock in the morning where there is nothing really to do. You have a manager going over with four or five dealers, sitting, explaining the game, practicing, and you just basically play it, deal it to each other. Then slowly you just keep -- you end up teaching other people as well.

Heather: So it’s dealers teaching dealers?

Sterling: Yes, basically. But sometimes there would be a case you would have managers teach and dealers. Or you would have the dealers teaching. Or the dealers teaching other dealers. Especially -- because there was more of a case, once you got to a harts dealer, it was like right when it’s open we will send someone over. Or when if it was the case of -- I remember during the morning shift at 9 o’clock in the morning there is not a lot to do.

Heather: Yes.

Sterling: So I remember being told, “Oh can you take these two dealers and teach them 4 Card Poker?” I was like that was fine. That is absolutely fine. I may not of been the best teacher but I did the job.

Heather: How long were you there for before you started teaching some of the games and was the casino school open 24/7 just like the casino was?

Sterling: So before I started to teach, I think I was there about two years. I only mainly taught the new games that got brought in, if the manager asked me. I’d never say, “Oh could you teach me these new games and stuff like that.” Our casino was open 24 hours. Some tables were short during that time. Or depending on the customer they would open the table as well.

Regarding the training school. For my training school, and training school after they did 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Then the training school after them, it was -- they split it up. So it was a couple of weeks 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. And then the next couple of weeks they would do 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to sorta get them used to like look your are not going to be in the casino during these times every single day, all the time. You will end up getting one week where you have to be in at 6 a.m in the morning to start at 7. Then other weeks you could be starting at 10 p.m. at night, finishing at 6 a.m. So there was that aspect of the training school where they were basically training you that it wasn’t going to be 9 to 5 every day. Showing more the realism of the job.

Heather: Okay. Now if you can remember, let’s say someone wants to go to the UK and they want to work as a dealer, do you remember what casinos had a good training school or had a good reputation to work for? Or do you remember what schools outside the casinos had a good reputation that people really liked, or they said a lot of good things about?

Sterling: I would say for anyone coming over here, mostly -- I don’t know if it is different if someone is coming over here and they don’t have the license or would they need to license before they come over or can they come over -- I think some casinos may feel like, yeah no that’s ok we can train you. Oh I just gone blank.

Heather: Do you--

Sterling: I think it depends of the area. I think some casinos may have an inside -- like an inhouse training, some casinos may not. Obviously it’s a case of if you are wanting to come over it’s more, have a look at which areas are doing that.

Heather: So do you recommend any casinos that have good training schools? Anything that you can name them?

Sterling: Honestly I have only worked for the one company for all my three years. In a way I can only talk about them, which was Grosvenor. So I’ve had no issue when I was training with them. I have a few issues working with them, but it was my own fault. I was the one getting into trouble so that is why the issues arose. So personally I really enjoyed training and working at Grosvenor. Some of my best years working there.

Heather: Oh cool. Awesome. Okay. One more question for the dealing school. Did they have worksheets? Did they have packets that they give you? Did they have a test that they make you take? Or anything like that?

Sterling: So, the first game we got taught was roulette. The first thing we ever learned was to chip hop and cut chips.

Heather: Mucking.

Sterling: Do you know what is really enjoyable? Because before I moved over to Belfast, I used to have a set of training chips that I slightly forgot to give back.

Heather: Oh no.

Sterling: I mean it’s been two years and they haven’t asked for it back. It’s fine. I would just sit there and just chip them up. To begin with. I was trying to learn. At the end of the shift you have a cramp in your hands. But yes so once we like -- not mastered but got to grips with chipping up, and cutting down. We got given a booklet which basically came from our casinos manual for gaming. So we just got given, it’s like ok here’s all the terminology that you will use, here is a breakdown of the racetrack, here is the breakdown of the wheel. Here is what you do if it hits zero and you have even bets. There was also the odds. We had like a conversion table.

Heather: Yes

Sterling: It was the case of, if it’s on straight up you pay this amount, if you have -- so I think it went up to 20. We have to basically learn the times tables for all your different bets. Obviously a straight up stayed 5’s split 17 and so on. We had to basically learn all the multiplications for them.

Heather: Would they test you on that?

Sterling: Yeah. So sometimes there would be a case of...it would be as simple as which walk-in and training instructor would have used different colored chips. And so different bets. We would just get these cards and write down the answer what we think it would be.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: Or it’d be the case of...you would be chippin up and they would just come around and go, “What’s seven on the straight up?” Oh first, we not have that much sleep, but you still have to give the answer quite quickly.

Heather: So what is it?

Sterling: Oh gosh!!

Heather: Haha don’t worry just kidding.

Sterling: I’m confused. 3-4-5

Heather: woow!

Sterling: I’m not sure I should tell you that now. What is seven on the straight? I’m saying 2.5

Heather: I am putting you on the spot and everything.

Sterling: 345. Still got it!

Heather: Nice!

Sterling: I hate the splits! 17 is such an awkward number.

Heather: You just have to memorize the times tables.

Sterling: I learned up to 10 I think, rather than 20.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: Well if it’s 12 I would just do…

Heather: six and six

Sterling: Or 10 plus two.

Heather: That too.

Sterling: That’s much easier.

Heather: That’s true.

Sterling: We also had tables where if a color chip was set at 50p £1, £5, all different values. So it was the case of...one thing we got taught with conversion is if it’s set £5. Don’t think of it as. So if I had three on the number, don’t think of it as 15 X 35. Just think of it 3 x 35 and then just get the equivalent amount.

Heather: Yep!

Sterling: It would be so much easier.

Heather: It is. It is so much easier. Paying by the unit versus paying by the actual dollar amount.

Sterling: Yeah.

Heather: Yeah I always pay by the units. I never pay by the dollar amount, because I could never do the math. Units is so much easier.

Sterling: I think what I got taught was, what was it, think it’s times 10 half it. I think.

Heather: Humm.

Sterling: Or divide it and then knock a zero off. I can’t remember.

Heather: Yes. They have really interesting keys they use to figure out odds and figure out bets. That really helps a dealer when doing math and everything.

Now in this little section that we are doing, we talked about transferring from one position to another position in a casino. We also talked about training schools. Is there anything you want to talk about on those two subjects before we move on to our next subject?

Sterling: No I think that is it. I will probably think of something much later. Oh yeah, by the way.

Heather: Just mention it. We will go back and talk. Now I am checking out your guys' comments. You guys have a lot of comments here. Really do appreciate that. If you guys have any questions that you have that you want to ask Sterling or myself please put them in there and we will get to them at the end of the show. Real quick I just want to point out one comment from DA PHILLIES ACE, thank you so so much. It’s good to see you. It says, “Hey Heather you’re the best thanks for your help and trying to transition from a casino in PA to a potential Vegas casino, very much appreciated.

Thank you. Really do appreciate that, good to see you. That is a superchat right there. So you guys can see that.

Okay, so Sterling, how do you actually go about getting a job in a casino in the UK? Do you go to the casino and fill out an application? Can you fill out an application online? Like what is the very first step that you take to get a job in casinos in the UK?

Sterling: So a lot of places now it is more of a case of apply online. Obviously if you do have a casino that you would like to work at very close to you, you can go in. You can say, “Look, can I talk to a manager about job opportunities and stuff like that.” They may say, yep that is fine let’s look at your CV. Although a lot of them may say, “Look, if you go online, you can apply online and we can get back to you.”

Heather: So it’s basically the same as Las Vegas. Because that is what we tell people here. You go online, you put your application in online. And then after you put your application in online, you go to the casino pit, ask for the shift manager. Let them know you want a job there, if they are hiring. Of course he will be like, you have to put your application online. Well, I already did that. If you show up in your black and whites they might do an audition right then and there. Is that the same over there?

Sterling: So I’m guessing if you already got your license and you know how to deal, I think so yes. Obviously if you don’t have a license and you don’t know how to deal, you could inquire and say, “Hey look, I am quite interested to work for this company, do you have any training schools? Or if you don’t do you know where I could -- where would you recommend?” I think if you ask like where would you recommend? It sorta saying look I want to get to a point where I am up to standards for your company.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: It can sorta put you in a bad setting. Definitely, if you don’t have a license or training you can do it that way. If you do, you may be called for what’s called a table test. To see if you know how to deal. In which basically, I believe it’s the same as an audition where you will have managers who will sit at, go through different games. You basically deal as you normally would. So when I transferred from Nottingham to Edinburgh I had to do a table test. Now I was like -- the only thing that was really, really sickly worrying me was, do I wear my uniform? Because it is the same company, or do I go in in a suit and tie? Luckily it was just going suit and tie. So I was like, sweet I don’t have to bring the waistcoat, hate the waistcoat. I don’t know what it is but it was like black on the back and they had gold, I was like, NO! Oh it was the other way around, it was gold on the back and then black on the front. I am not a fan of this!

Heather: The suit and tie, it is an actual suit and tie that you would wear to let’s say at a funeral or something? Or is it like your black and whites? Where you wear black pants and a white long sleeve button down collar shirt with a black tie or something?

Sterling: I basically went in a suit I bought, trousers -- I think I wore some navy blue trousers, white shirts, navy blue waistcoat and jack. I think a silver tie. I just went and see if it was like a 9 to 5 job, it’s like how I would dress for that. So the first game that I had to deal was blackjack. They just basically loaded everything up. Like massage bets. They were also asking me questions. So one of the questions that I got asked was, I think I had a seven, they had 12 or 13 or something. And they said what should I do? Now because that’s the thing, we can’t say, Oh you should do this or you shouldn't do that. Because it looks like we are influencing the game.

Heather: Exactly!

Sterling: I can’t comment 100% say if we are allowed to go, Oh the book would say. Like because then again if I get that wrong, it still looks like I am influencing the game kind of thing.

Heather: Okay. So they might be a little bit stricter about it in the UK than they are in Las Vegas for example.

Sterling: Yeah so. I think any time we can sort of like give advice without giving advice. So I remember a guy had two tens, and I think I had a king (I think) and he was like, “I want to split them.” I was like, “Are you sure? You do have 20.” So it was a case of I was giving advice but I wasn’t saying you should split or I wouldn’t split. It was basically --

Heather: I would have broken that rule and I would have been like are you kidding me? Don’t split that! What's wrong with you?

Sterling: The amount of times I have see it.

Heather: I know right?

Sterling: Or sometimes it is a case of like, “Really!” “Are you sure??”

Heather: Are you sure?

Sterling: And then which you ask like two times and they you are like, Okay, fair enough.

Heather: You know you should second guess your choices when the dealer gives you that look and they are like, “Are you sure? Are you sure you want to do that? You might want to re-think this. Are you sure?”

Sterling: Honestly! Some people. So obviously I got asked a few questions about the game. I then went to roulette. Dealt some of that. I made a small mistake because they threw me a bet. But because it was a bet I have never heard of I called no bets.

Heather: Ohh.

Sterling: Now the thing is luckily it was a case of -- it was with management and they were like okay well up here this is a very popular bet you will get it quite a lot. So I’m like, “No that’s fair enough.” I draw the -- say no bet and then have the bet explained, ranther than take the bet and not know what it is. So they were fine with that.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: I think I went -- I had to have the proper interview where I was asked about -- a lot of them were like, “What do you know about this club?” Right? So this actual casino, what do you know about it, this, that, and the other.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: When and if a table is losing money, what would you do?

Heather: Oh wow!

Sterling: It wasn’t just ok, why do you want the job? It was very much practical as well where -- obviously going back to, oh “You have a table losing, what would you do in order to either slow the loss down or try and regain the cost back, so the table is winning again?”

Heather: Wow, what was your answer?

Sterling: So obviously with roulette it was a case of very the speeds of the wheel bearing speeds, the ball. If I’m losing quite a lot of money due to racetrack bets, say no more call bets a bit earlier. Or try and say no more bets earlier. Even if it’s small changes, just do it that way. It can make massive difference. Blackjack maybe speed up hands or try -- basically do what I can. Also be diligent so there are no mistakes where it is the case of slowing down the game even more.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: So yeah! But honestly table test are very scary because you do it in the casino as well. On the floor. And the thing is especially if it’s a very slow day. You have everyone in that casino watching. Not just the management. We have the dealers, the inspecting, it’s like.

Heather: Everybody.

Sterling: Everybody! I was going to say because when I transferred to Scotland, there was a balcony above the gaming area and that is where the restaurant was. They had all the valets, so like the waiters and waitresses. So they were watching. I was like (bury head in hands). I can’t do this!

Heather: Performance anxiety!

Sterling: A nightmare.

Heather: Oh I bet it was. So when they had you do these table test, when they had you do this, where normal actal players on the table that you were dealing a live game to? Or did you have management and other dealers on the roulette table who were playing the game just to see how you dealt it?

Sterling: So when I went for my table test I just had the management. I had two managers -- but they would recreate type customers that they’d get. So on roulette I had one of them. He was just playing simple bets on the layout. That was more to test accountability, like being able to count. And then obviously I had another manager throwing me all these bets. Change here, change here, give me the change back, this that and the other.

Heather: Was he chunking at all?

Sterling: He --

Heather: He was chunking.

Sterling: Basically he was throwing me bet after bet after bet until there were no more bets. But obviously they like the fact being from a city casino, which was in the middle of the town, going to a casino that is a bit further out. Obviously I was able to take that with me. I was able to be quick and do the job and what not.

Heather: Okay.

Sterling: I think they appreciated that.

Heather: Now how long did you audition last? Was it short or did it last for an hour or two?

Sterling: So I got into Edinburgh for just after mid day. About two o’clock. My -- well table test was at 8 o’clock because it got pushed back. I think mine was meant to be a 4 o’clock, so I was like, “I’ve got two hours to kill, before I need to go. And they were like, no the manager isn’t going to be in until 8 o’clock. I was like, I have six hours. I finally got there. I didn’t get out until I think just before midnight. So it was like a four hours. Obviously doing the tasks, this, that and the other. They basically just offered me the job there and then at that point.

Heather: Okay so you knew by the end of the audition whether you got it or not?

Sterling: Yeah, because management did say like no maybe we would wait 24 hours like the next day. I just said to the manager, like, “What time would I be expecting a call to say if I have the job or not?” He went, “Well you got it anyway if you want it.” I was like sweet. And then within a week I was moving up.

Heather: Nice!

Sterling: So it was a very hectic week. I was like, oh gosh.

Heather: For a normal casino it -- they normally don’t tell you right then and there. It’s typical for them to wait 24 hours for them to give you the call to say whether you got it or not?

Sterling: Yeah. I think well sometimes they will talk to another manager and basically look, we have this person, this person wanting to come up. So talk to them. They would probably call the casino. The management up in Edinburgh would ring the casino in Nottingham, talking to them like, “What is he like as a dealer?” Or this, that, and the other. So there is a lot of communication. And then you are sorta hanging for a day or two waiting for that phone call to say, “Hi yeah, congratulations you got the job, come up as soon as you can.”

Heather: Okay. Cool. Now in this section we talked about filling out your application and submitting it. And we talked about doing the audition. Is there anything you want to add to that before we go on to our next section?

Sterling: I would say while doing your audition, they don’t -- management doesn’t just look at how you are dealing the game. It’s also how you interact with people.

Heather: Yes! Yes!

Sterling: Customer services is 110% So even it sounds so silly but like if your casino has a players card or like points cards. I felt so silly asking the managers like, “Do you have” -- It was a case of we didn’t -- at that point it wasn’t the case of we are managers, it’s the case of we’re customers. So we have to treat them as a customer, so it was a case of greeting them.

Heather: Yes. Saying their name.

Sterling: Yes, asking for their player's card. “Oh you don’t have a player's card?” and then like “Can I ask for your Sir name? Are you a member? Would you like to” -- so there is a lot of customer service that you have to do even if it’s front of management who may not actually care that you are doing this whole customer service, but then it proves that you are going above and beyond. To like make the customer feel better.

Heather: Well it’s not just going above and beyond that’s a big part of being a casino dealer is making the players feel welcome. Letting them have a good time. Talking to them in a way that makes them feel like, you know you guys are friends, and you have a lot to talk about and you share interest. The reason that is so important is because this keeps players at the table for a very long period of time. That is how the casinos make money. So if a dealer isn’t friendly and chatty and they keep their players interested. If they are not doing those things then they are not making the casino money. Therefore they are not technically a good dealer for that casino. So it is very important.

Sterling: I think qualities liked as well is when you have worked at a place so long you get to know the regulars.

Heather: Yes.

Sterling: And so when I first started, it was always… “Good evening. I’m Sterling I am going to be your dealer. Oh do you have your card, Sir?” You are very very formal. But what I also liked was when we -- when I got to know the customers a bit more. It was basically you go to a table, “Oh hey Jack how are you doing?” Like you just talk to them normally. You have a laugh with them. They would have a laugh with you. Where as at the beginning I was like, “Good evening Mr. Smith.” It was very formal. And then by the end it was like, “Hello Jack! Oh the wife is not with you I see. You get a piece of quiet for once.” You end up having a laugh, or they’d not hural abuse but just like a bit of banter.

Heather: Right.

Sterling: You just have a laugh with it.

Heather: Just like friends banter with each other.

Sterling: Yeah. I used to enjoy that. But yeah so I would say like, if you don’t have -- obviously the job can be draining and in the nicest way, soul crushing.

Heather: In the nicest way possible.

Sterling: In the nicest way. :)

Heather: You're right.

Sterling: Well the thing is, I think if you do not have that customer service element, where it is the case of, it doesn’t matter your cat has just been run over, your car broke down on the way to work, you have a hole in your shoe and everything is just like…

Heather: You gotta go get on that table and still be happy and smile.

Sterling: Yeah!

Heather: Exactly!

Sterling: If you don’t have that, I wouldn’t say it may not be the best job for you. Obviously there are days where you are not this happy chappy that you always are. Yeah there will be times you are just like, allright. No one is expecting you to have this big massive fake grin on you 24/7. Obviously you are allowed to have a few naf hours. Nine times out of ten you do need to be on the ball. You do need to be this happy, chappy person.

Heather: Yep. Friendly. Personable. Welcome.

Sterling: Yeah. And if you don’t have that, either it be a case the table will lose money, or you will be losing your job, or you will get transferred to a different department where it is the case you don't need to do that as much.

Heather: Exactly! Okay so anything else before we go on to the next section?

Sterling: I think as well apart from customer service you need a thick skin. There are a lot of qualities that you are not told about that you will need before you go for that job in the casinos. Obviously you need great customer service, but you need a thick skin, you need to know how to be witty, know how to say things back, but in an appropriate manner. Without getting into trouble. I think that is something that a lot of dealers will either have or wouldn't have. You can build on it but you will never be as good. If that makes sense.

Heather: No it does. It completely does. You definitely need a thick skin in this industry. You have to have the right temperament. If you are the type of person where you complain about everything and everything is going wrong, dealing might be a little hard. It might not be very much fun.

Okay, Sterling last section. My big question is licensing. We talked a little bit about in the first section, and a little bit in the second section. But here in Las Vegas the way that we do this is you’re interested in getting a job as a casino dealer. You go to school. Whether that is an outside school or a school in a casino. Once the casino decides that they like you and they want to hire you. It’s during that hiring process that you actually get your gaming license. So they will say they want to hire you, you have to go through all the hiring stuff. Finger prints, background check, that type of a thing. And they will actually -- the casinos here in Las Vegas will actually put your application in through the gaming department. And they will do it all for you right then and there. The only thing you have to do is pay the fee and make sure you get your fingerprints for the background. And once you are approved for background then you have your license. Even though it is not a physical license, it’s an electronic thing that they check digitally. We never get a physical license. It was just, “Oh you now have a gaming license, and you have it for the next five years. And when it expires, the casino will tell you and then will reapply for you.” So I never really had to deal with it. The casino did most the work for me, and I just gave them the money and did the finger prints. And that was the most I had to do to get a license.

Sterling: Yeah. Over here it works like, different. So I think it depends on which area you work in. So when I applied for mine, I was originally applying for a cashier license. But basically it comes under, there are two types. There’s a PFL and a PML. So the PFL is the Personal Functional License and the PML is the Personal Management License...I believe.

Heather: So one is for a supervisor and one is for a dealer?

Sterling: Yeah. So basically if you handle cash at all, that wasn’t in the bar or restaurant. Like you have to get a PFL. So it was a case of once you started, it was a case of right, right let’s get your license sorted as much as you can. So we have to do a lot of the work. So we have to fill out the forms, we have to provide all the ID. I think we have to apply for a DBS. Which is a criminal background check. To make sure we aren’t, you know, dodgy. We are to fill out all the information, and then wait. I think it was the casino that pays for it. That lasted you -- Once you got the license, you have to -- that was your license for five years. I think like once it hits -- so my license is technically valid. So mine runs out April 2021. Yes I’ve left the business but I could have surrendered my license. I didn’t know if I was going to go back into it once I left. So I would rather have that license still active. So obviously mine runs out in April so if I was still working for the casinos I would say January -- The Jasmin team would have been like, “Your license is soon to expire. Let’s just basically go over stuff so it then comes into fall when it does eventually run out.” We sorta didn’t also get a physical copy, we just got an email that says, “Here’s your license.”

Heather: More than what we got.

Sterling: We got an email with a PDF of our license. And then we just had to send it over to the Outsman. They just print it off and just whack it in our file. I mean --

Heather: So really you are the one that has to go through the whole process of getting your license. The casinos, did they help you at all? Or were they just like you know this is something you have to do?

Sterling: So obviously, when I was applying -- because I was still in the cash desk. The head cashier would just sorta go -- would go through it. “You need to collect this one, and this one.” Sort of helping but when it came to like at list or the addresses in the past 10 years, I had to do that because no one else would have known where I lived, or what I was doing for employment for the last 5 to 10 years.

Heather: So was it like filling out another application? Was it similar to filling out like a 2nd application to another job? Is that what it felt like?

Sterling: Yeah. Honestly, it was just so time consuming. Like filling this all out. I think what made it longer was you would send something off. And then you would have to wait a week and a half to get a response. Then, “Oh by the way you missed this section.” I was like right, okay. You’d go fill it in, send it off, wait another week and a half. They are like, “We are just waiting for your DBS.” I’m like, I didn’t need to know that. I have sent it like -- then you have to wait. I think the whole process for me took about two months to get my license.

Heather: Oh that is so frustrating!

Sterling: It makes it worse if you change your address, you have to tell them, oh I changed my address. It is so difficult to get through to the gambling commission over here.

Heather: Oh jeez.

Sterling: It is -- So I am like -- So once I got my license I was that proud that I actually achieved something. I brought a A4 Photo frame, printed my license off and just put it and just hung it up. I actually achieved something.

Heather: That’s awesome.

Sterling: I think I have it back home.

Heather: That is awesome.

Sterling: Like, I think literally two months tomorrow my license expires. I might have a little party because of it. Like I’m free! And then probably I will be like, oh I have to go through the whole process if I go back there.

Heather: Well, besides your gaming license was there any other paperwork or anything else that you had to do before you actually started your job as a dealer?

Sterling: So I have to do an induction. Basically if there is a fire drill, it’s just going through all the company procedures, what the code of conduct was. I think I had to write my name, my address, my telephone number. No words of a lie, probably about 16 times. On different forms. So I had to have one for fire safely, but I understood and what not. What to do if there is a bomb scare. Like I have to date and sign the fact that I knew what to do. Same with liability, all this that and the other. Then it was the case of, if you getting injured and die at work...like who do we send money to? So it’s like right okay. We can fill out who could get a percentage. It was really awkward. Like what parent -- do you just do your parents 50/50? Or is it a case of if you like one parent do you give them a little bit more or a little bit less? So I think the induction, I think that took -- because I quit my jo, so I handed in my one week resignation. So I had one week left and then it was the case of -- I said to my manager I have my induction at 5 o’clock at my new place. And he was like, “All right, Okay.” Half four he let’s me go. I have to just quickly run up to the shop, grab bit and bobs, run across the road to the casino because I had to walk two minutes from my old job to the new job. To get there for five. I don’t think I actually left the managers office until 11 o’clock at night.

Heather: Oh my!

Sterling: Luckily when I transferred I didn’t have to do any of that. I was just the case of just sign the contract saying oh I now work for the Edenburg Branch. So that’s basically what I had to do.

Heather: Okay. Cool. So I think we have pretty much talked about everything. Is there anything else you want to talk about before we go to comments?

Sterling: I think that’s it for the moment.

Heather: Yeah? Okay. Well if you guys are watching and you guys have any questions, comments, suggestions. Anything like that, put them in the chat. Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Now we have a new article up, “Interview with a professional card counter.” We had that video transcribed. That is brand new so check it out.

Okay so now for my favorite part, doing the questions, comments and seeing what you guys are saying in the chat. I love seeing what you guys are saying in the chat. A lot of people are saying Hi. Got nashvillan here. Hey nashville! And Allan is here and Peter with Match 52. Hello, Good to see everyone. And Joey, sweet! Everyone is here. And again, Phillies thank you so much for that supper chat. Really do appreciate that Superchat. Thank you so so much! Let’ see if we can find any questions. Now Joey is actually in the UK and he says, “Sorry but UK job centers don’t do anything to help you unless you go in with a signed guarantee you get the job.”

Do you have any experience, Sterling, with job centers trying to give you a job as a casino dealer?

Sterling: I personally didn’t but there was a couple of people on my training school that were referred to by the job censor. So I knew it was a case of they may help or they may not. So I wouldn’t be able to say 100% yes the job centers help. But I know from talking to people that it is a possibility.

Heather: Okay. Cool. And Nashvillan says, “As a dealer in an entertainment company (not for real money) so one of the casino party companies, we always cross train various table games. So they like to schedule people on craps, as the pit boss, or in a poker tournament.” So they really utilize their dealers in that industry.

And also, Joey is saying that the public schools for dealing are few and far between. Do you agree with that?

Sterling: Yeah. I think the only one I personally know about is --- I think it’s near London. Actually it’s inside Charlton Athletic football club. Like they have a little area that is decked out like a casino and they train people there. But I will be honest, my geography is absolutely enough. I couldn’t tell you where Charleton is. I know it is down south. So like someone from Nottingham, say like where I grew up. It would be absolutely pointless of them to go all the way down to Charlton to train. If you can try and find an inhouse one, brilliant. If not maybe like have a look-see if there are any in your area or if you have to travel how far you have to travel, that into account.

Heather: Okay, sounds cool. So next up is from Sheree, “I wonder how they adjust the wages it would seem complicated to continually switch pay according to what department you will filling in.” Do you know how they do that with pay? If you are working in like a poker department one day but then you are working as a slot tech the next day?

Sterling: So for me, over here we have something called the living wage. I think that is sorta -- I don’t know how to explain probably because I don’t understand but it’s kinda like above minimum wage. This is how much you should be paid an hour to live, but it was more for those over 25. But because, obviously we was working in the casino, we couldn’t just give it to you.

Heather: Oh okay.

Sterling: And obviously we got a little pay increases over time. It was the case of someone was just a dealer. Like they wasn’t a multi-school dealer, they would get paid a living wage. But where was me I could do three or four different departments, I’d still get paid the same as the dealers who just out. So it was the case of -- that’s just how the dealers like -- it’s in your job description.

Heather: So was there any advantage to being able to work in three different departments? Or if you got paid the same no matter what you worked, was it the case of corporations trying to basically use and abuse their employees?

Sterling: I feel like it was the case of they trained as in different departments -- it looks better for us if we went to go to other casinos. So it’s the case of, brilliant -- It makes us look better. I think we also enjoyed it as well because it was the case of oh we have to break reception, it gave us 20 minutes not having to deal with customers screaming and shouting at you because you’ve took all their money on blackjack. So in a way it was a nice little break for us. I personally was like, hang on, I’m able to do the job of three of the people but I’m getting the wage of one person. Obviously I’m not asking for three peoples wages worth, but even if it’s a couple of extra quids an hour. Like I would be happy with that, because it just proves that if you work harder you get more benefits for it.

Heather: Yeah. Definitely! And then Joey wants to add to that too, so Joey said, “It tends to be hourly rate here no matter what work hat you are wearing. When I was working in the club, I would work at the bar and then bingo and then all sorts of stuff.” Yeah same thing you were saying. He just wanted to add to that.

And then another question that we have is, “What was the wage structure like in the UK? So for example here in Las Vegas, we get minimum wage which I think at the moment is $8.25 an hour. And then you get tokes. The tips are basically what you live off of. So your minimum wage $8 an hour would basically be enough money to pay your taxes and then whatever you made for tips is what you lived on.

Sterling: Yeah. Obviously when I first started in a casino, I was getting paid £7 20P an hour. So the end of the month it was the case of right you added that all up. Then it was the case of tips, on top of that, which was then added -- obviously if you had holiday pay, so if I took three days holiday, that was three days of wages added back in. And that was all added up, and then we had 20% talken off for tax. Income tax and natural insurance. Whatever was left over that was yours. So obviously if he was -- most people was paid the same wage. Obviously if you was a supervisor you got paid a bit more. If it was like, part of the pit, if you was a major you was on salary. So it was like every year, the minimum wage goes up every year. But obviously because we was living wage, but every so often they would be like, oh we are doing a pay increase. So I think they got rid of all staff meals. And then they added that into it. So rather than getting paid £7 20P I was new getting paid £7 37P. So that extra 17P an hour and got changed to 8 an hour and it got raised again. That is how we sorta got worked out.

Heather: Okay. And then the next question is, “What is the average age for a new croupier?”

Sterling: I would say between 19 to -- average 18 to 24. We did have some people that were training and they were in their 30’s. We have had 18 year olds come and deal. So relatively quite young. Obviously start about the mid 20’s that is sorta the average age of your new dealers.

Heather: Okay. This question, I think you already answered it. The gaming license is it annual or for life?

Sterling: So I was paid for five years, so again. I got my license in 2016 and is now going to run out this year. And then I get to -- if I was still in the business I would have to re-apply for it. It’s just going to become invalid in April.

Heather: Okay. And then -- we got a hey! Hey! I love the -- love the easy ones. Next one is, let’s see, “Do your tokes get taxed.”

Sterling: So I am guessing tokes is tips?

Heather: Tips, right!

Sterling: Yeah. So yeah basically. Because it got added into our -- so we had our hourly wage and then it was like how much you earned this month, and then our tips were added into that and then obviously -- because over here we were allowed to -- I think it’s like annually it’s about £500 a year. Like, that first -- it got to the point I was earning 17K a year. So that first 12,500 could not be taxed. That was mine to keep. I could do whatever. But then anything over that I would get taxed. It just got worked out monthly. You just paid 20% for your tax. But that was everything you’ve earned. So yeah tips were included into that.

Heather: Okay and that is our last question from the peanut gallery. Thank you peanut gallery. Do you have anything you would like to add to that or anything we didn’t discuss before we end the livestream?

Sterling: I’d say if you are thinking about becoming a dealer in the UK, obviously you will not be dealing one game. You will have to learn at minimum three games. Maybe up to five. Luckily there are a lot of similarities with some. So be prepared to have to switch your brain from two and a half hours on roulette to a 20 minute break to then snap and go, now blackjack rules. So it is the case of you always having to keep the rules in your head. Even after training, I’d still say go over your basics. Make sure that you’ve got them down. If you do have any questions, just ask people in the industry. They are more than happy to just answer them as stupid as it sounds.

Like you think it is a stupid question, there is no such thing as a stupid question. I mean I got baffled with conversions from £1 50P. I was like this doesn’t make sense. I have to go ask the help of like, how do I work things out for 50P. Yeah it’s the case of half everything. That’s brilliant, but it can be confusing.

Heather: I think that is an awesome point that you bring up. Casinos they would so much rather you ask, then be like I don’t know I’m just going to do this and hope that it works out. They would be so mad if you did that. They would so much rather that you ask and then find out the right answer and have you do it the right way.

Sterling: Yeah. Especially when it comes to procedure, because the difference between Nottingham and Edinburgh was when we had a stack of £5 chips. In Nottingham, if it was the case if we had to pay 15, like 15 fivers we have to cut down. But in Edinburgh you could just pencil it. So obviously if you are ever short, especially if you are moving from one casino to another, ask about procedures like what’s changed, what’s the same. Especially if it is in the same company. Just ask questions. There is no such thing as stupid question.

Heather: Definitely. Well thank you so much for being on. Thank you for being a guest. Thank you for sharing your insights and your wisdom. We really do appreciate you having -- being on and doing all this.

Sterling: Any time. I am more than happy.

Heather: Thank you. Definitely coming back.

Sterling: Oh absolutely.

Heather: Sweet!