Casino Dealer Wages in London

Every wondered just how much, that speedy fingered dealer is taking home each night? In London’s top twenty-five licensed casinos, the details aren’t always that easy to find. So just how much can you make by working the cards in London? And are the tips really worth it? Since casinos rarely divulge how much cash their employees make at the tables and tips are usually between the dealer and the players, its difficult to know exactly how much money is flowing. However, as an indicator most dealing jobs start at a base of between £15-20k. At that price you have to know your game well, with no obvious mistakes and most importantly make money for the casino.

Dealers vary in levels, skills, experience and social circles. Mid level dealers will be paid a minimum of £25k but it’s known for them to earn around £48k including tips, which can vary enormously. High level dealers earn in the £80k region and above - typically dealing at high stakes games or for trusted clients at private tables in exclusive clubs. Its known that in some casinos, where high rollers regularly tip generously, the dealer will pay the casino a fee every month to deal there. Tips are proportional to the wins made at your table and its always good to know the high rollers who are more likely to tip high in a game. Depending on who is at your table and how much they have been drinking, dealers can expect to make anything between a couple of hundred pounds to a smooth five grand a night. Moving up the dealer career ladder is a case of impressing your players with ever faster more accurate dealing, an eye for detail and getting a good rapport with the players. Dealers will move from casino to casino based upon recommendations and experience.

The best way to get into dealing and become a dealer/croupier in the UK is to practice day and night and get into games with friends, families and colleagues. When your skills are finally getting noticed, approach several casinos and offer to demonstrate your dealing technique. If you’re good enough and they are looking to hire, they will take you on. Alternatively you can become familiar with a local casino environment and make friends with dealers and get training or tips from them about getting your foot in the door. If you are serious about working the decks you will need to always be dressed smartly and be willing to work around the temperament of stressed and rude players all the time. In other words, you need to be cool headed and sharp to survive in this environment. Once your reach a certain level, the job will become natural to you and you can enjoy yourself, your preferred circle of players and earn a lot of money for the time you put into it. So flex those fingers, grab yourself a deck and some chips and start getting some practice games together. You might find yourself dealing at London’s big tables in just a few short years.

If you want more information, check out a previous article on dealer salary levels in Las Vegas.