As an employee of the casino, the casino croupier is responsible for ensuring that all games at the table are played in accordance with the rules. There are also female croupiers.
The game masters regulate technical matters at card games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat as well as at the roulette table. Although most casinos train their croupiers themselves, there are also independent schools in Switzerland and Austria, for example.
Who Can Become a Casino Croupier?
An impeccable demeanor is required of this professional group, as croupiers stand for the seriousness and authority of the gaming provider with their aura. At the same time, they have to be a popular figure with guests. They need a high degree of sensitivity towards them. Gambling is accompanied by strong emotions, which is why croupiers must have the appropriate social intelligence.
An impeccable appearance that matches the etiquette of the operator is a self-evident requirement. Of course, this also applies when players access the offers via the Internet, such as in an online casino like https://www.richardcasino3.com/. There are also offers with real croupiers, who must appear just as respectable and well-groomed as in the stationary gaming establishments.
Training of Croupiers
The casinos offer their own training programs. There are also renowned roulette schools in Switzerland and Austria. A croupier can learn the basic skills in around three months, but there are also longer training programs lasting between four and eight months.
Trainees must be at least 18 years old. For example, they practise operating slot machines, stacking chips correctly and pushing the chips to the players with the râteau (croupier’s rake) without the towers collapsing. Skill is also required. Practical exercises take place in real casinos. There is an intermediate examination during the training programme, which concludes with a theoretical and a practical final examination and, if passed, a certificate. According to the Swiss Gaming School, the training program covers
English Roulette
- Presentation of the game
- Variety of the rules of the game
- Internal regulations and procedures of casinos
- Token handling, cutting, and dispatch
- familiarisation with the cylinder and the playing mat
- quick mental arithmetic
- Safety procedures, observation, and min/max
- Game progression and speed
- Evaluation of the game
Blackjack, Texas Hold’em Poker, Stud & Ultimate.
- Presentation, game rules, regulations, and token handling as above
- Handling, dealing and shuffling of cards
- Game rules and techniques
- Calculations for individual card games
- Security procedures
- Profit calculation and evaluation
General Knowledge
- Social concept: prevention of gambling addiction
- Money laundering laws of individual countries
- Video educational support with personalised follow-up
- Animation of the gaming table
- Behavior at the table, self-confidence, and attitude
- Diversity of casinos, internal hierarchies
Modern croupier schools such as the Swiss Gaming School in the Swiss town of CH-1907 Sachsen (Canton Valais) have put training on a solid footing. For centuries, casinos trained their croupiers exclusively themselves, which could lead to quite different levels between individual establishments.
Prospective employees worked their way up within their casino, starting out as a bellboy in the gaming room, as a receptionist, as a doorman or as an office assistant and were then gradually allowed to work at the gaming tables once they had proven their loyalty, team spirit and good manners. However, the profession requires a lot more, which is addressed in the training programs of the 21st century. Two areas are relatively new but are extremely important due to legal regulations: the prevention of addiction and the prevention of money laundering.
Is Training to Become a Croupier Difficult?
According to relevant reports, it is quite demanding and is not easily mastered. The croupier schools do not publish exact figures, but presumably, more than half of all participants in the seminars do not pass the final examination. The high standards are justified because the profession is very demanding. There is a constant stress in the casino, while the croupiers have to follow the action very closely and cannot afford to make any mistakes. In addition, irregular working hours increase the workload.
What do Croupiers Actually Earn?
Casinos have their own pay scale system for croupiers. Their salaries are generated by the casino from the tronc money. These are tips from casino visitors, which they usually give voluntarily when they win.
The Tronc varies from month to month, which is why the casino pays the croupier a small basic salary and a Tronc-dependent profit share. Each croupier can positively influence this through their friendly demeanour. The basic salary varies between individual casinos and also depends on the position of the croupier. The income is not as high as one would expect based on the environment:
Starting salaries are said to range from around $1,450 to $1,600, with experienced croupiers reaching $5,000 per month, but only in good months. This is a gross salary, from which taxes and social security contributions must be paid.
What are the Basic Requirements for Training and Starting a Career?
The casinos and even the training centres require a clean criminal record and proof that applicants are debt-free. They should have completed vocational training and, in some casinos, provide references from a previous employer (known as a good reputation). If they pass the final examination for the croupier training programme, they are initially employed as junior croupiers on a trial basis, for which some casinos do not pay a basic salary.
These strict entry requirements mean that those croupiers who succeed in the profession have high professional qualifications, impeccable working techniques and absolute self-control. Players can always trust their croupier.
They must be discreet and loyal and keep their distance from guests outside the casino. At the gaming table, croupiers are never addressed by name by superiors or colleagues. They remain anonymous. This is to prevent a cheating player from making contact with the croupier in order to manipulate the game together.
Officials from the tax authorities also appear in casinos to monitor the correct operation of the games. The croupiers have no contact with them either. Even among themselves, croupiers are not supposed to maintain private relationships. This is standard practice in most casinos.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the role of a casino croupier is a multifaceted and demanding profession that requires a combination of skills, training, and personal attributes. The responsibility of overseeing fair play at the gaming tables while maintaining an impeccable demeanour and fostering a positive relationship with guests is crucial to the success of a croupier. The training programs offered by casinos and specialised schools, such as the Swiss Gaming School, have evolved to cover a comprehensive range of skills, from game mechanics and rules to social concepts like preventing gambling addiction and money laundering.
The training period, lasting from three to eight months, underscores the complexity of the profession. However, the difficulty of the training is reflected in the high standards set for croupiers, with reports suggesting that more than half of participants do not pass the final examination. This demanding nature is justified by the constant stress of the casino environment, where croupiers must remain focused, make quick decisions, and handle the emotional dynamics of the players.
The financial aspect of a croupier’s career, while influenced by tips from casino visitors, varies and may not always align with the glamorous image associated with the industry. The strict entry requirements, including a clean criminal record, debt-free status, vocational training, and references, contribute to ensuring that successful croupiers possess high professional qualifications and impeccable working techniques.
The commitment to maintaining anonymity, both at the gaming table and in personal relationships, highlights the importance of integrity and trustworthiness in the profession. Croupiers play a crucial role in upholding the fairness and integrity of casino games, and the stringent rules governing their interactions serve to safeguard against potential collusion or manipulation.
