Infopanel
2-6 months
High School Diploma
$22/hour
Varies, up to $20+ per tip
Up to $10,000
AGCO (Ontario)
High Demand
$22-28/hour
How To Become a Casino Dealer
Who says playing Blackjack is the only way to make money at the casino? By learning how to be a casino dealer in Ontario, you’ll be on your way to earning a respectable income. And that’s not the only job waiting for you at your local real money casinos — and online. From the casino pit boss to the cashier, every casino worker comes together to make the experience great for players.
But before you walk into your local casino and hand over an application, you need to learn what it takes to become the dealer casino managers want to see. We’ll show you how.
Casino Dealer Training Courses
With 28 brick-and-mortar casinos scattered across the province, plus dozens of online casinos that offer Live Dealer games, there’s huge demand for casino dealers in Ontario. Answering the call are several schools that offer a casino dealer training course where you’ll learn:
• How to deal Blackjack, Poker, Craps, and other popular games
• Methods for calculating payouts at lightning-quick speed
• Ways to deal with unhappy players
• How to recognize problem gambling on the spot
But before you register for just any casino dealer training online, it’s important to beware of scam colleges looking to capitalize on people who aren’t familiar with casino dealer training. If you want to apply to work at your local casino, it’s worth giving them a call to find out what school they recommend.
In some cases, they might recommend a mix of online gambling courses and on-the-job training to get started. Other casinos might require you to attend a casino dealer training school, but they might also be willing to pay for the training or arrange a significant discount. So, before you spend your hard-earned money, ask questions. Some online casino training certificate programs cost as much as $10,000.
How long does it take to become a casino dealer?
Dreaming of dealing cards? You’ll need to attend casino class. No matter which casino dealer school you choose to attend, you can expect the program to last a few months at the very minimum.
Many Ontario programs are modelled after casino dealer training in Edmonton and casino dealer training in Calgary, so you can expect a thorough learning experience.
Remember, each casino dealer training school in Ontario covers every game imaginable, preparing you for the real world where you’ll bounce from one game to another.
How To Become a Dealer at a Casino in Ontario
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission takes casino gaming extremely seriously. They’re responsible for the integrity of casino and poker games throughout the province. And that means the casinos that hold an AGLC license want to hire only the best employees. If you’re confident that’s you, don’t be afraid to apply.
How to become a Blackjack dealer
Can’t wait to become a dealer? Before you step over to the other side of the felt, it’s important that you follow the right path. Here’s how to become a Blackjack dealer in 5 easy steps:
1. Study the game.
2. Brush up on your math skills.
3. Talk to a pit boss at your local casino.
4. Attend the training program they recommend (if required).
5. Practice dealing with friends and family to hone your skills.
Once you’ve mastered everything, you’ll be on your way to getting a job as a casino dealer. And who knows? You could find yourself receiving some positive in-depth casino reviews from happy players.
How to become a Poker dealer
Now that you understand how to become a dealer at a casino, you’re on your way to dealing cards in a poker room. The steps are the same. You’ll need math skills. You’ll need people skills. And you’ll need to be quick on your feet (though you’ll get to sit down, so that’s a nice perk).
Casino Dealer Jobs in Canada
There’s no shortage of casino jobs in Ontario. And even during the slow season, casinos across the province are always looking to bring on new casino dealers. Want to become one? Let’s find out if it’s the right career choice for you.
Casino Dealer Job Description
Searching for casino dealer jobs in Canada? It’s important to understand what the casino expects of you. No matter what casino dealer role you’re applying for, you’ll need to meet these requirements:
• Have a high school diploma
• Understand the rules of each game you’re dealing
• Be able to explain the rules to new players who may be unfamiliar with the game
• Interact with players in a positive manner
• Keep an eye out for suspicious play
• Be able to calculate odds and payouts quickly
• Provide a high level of customer service to each player
• Be able to handle large sums of money with ease
• Be comfortable standing for long periods of time
If you’re applying to be a poker dealer, you’ll likely see a similar casino dealer job description. But remember, not all casinos have poker rooms, so you should expect to see fewer poker dealer jobs in Ontario.
Salary & Earnings: How much do casino dealers make?
The casino dealer salary in Canada is competitive, and the salaries in Ontario are generous. You can expect to make between $22 and $28 per hour as a card dealer. The casino dealer salary varies based on your location. For example, the casino dealer salary in Toronto might be higher than in Sudbury.
How much do Blackjack dealers make?
After you learn how to get a job as a casino dealer, you’ll be eager to start dealing cards at the Blackjack tables. You can expect a starting salary of $22 per hour at most Ontario casinos. That’s well above the provincial minimum wage.
How much do Poker dealers make?
Poker dealers make as much as casino dealers — and often more. But remember, not all Ontario casinos have poker rooms. And while online casinos offer Live Casino tables, poker rooms don’t feature live dealers.
How much do casino dealers make in tips?
If you’re not sold on the hourly rate, it’s important to remember that casino dealers can also make tips. How much? That depends on the type of casino you’re playing at, the limit of the table, and pure luck.
If you’re playing at a table with a $5 minimum, the bet sizes will be relatively small. And while winners might tip, earning 10% of a $200 win will net you $20.
But if you’re seated at a high roller table with a $100 minimum, you can expect bigger payouts to winning players and bigger tips from whales.
Prefer remote work? Here’s how to become a dealer at a casino online
Remote work is huge — and so is remote play. That’s why so many casino fans want to know how to be an online casino dealer. But before you get excited about working from home, there’s a lot you need to know. Let’s unpack it.
What is a live dealer casino?
The line between online and live casino gaming is blurry. Today, almost every online casino in Ontario offers Live Casino games. These are real casino games hosted by a real dealer, who are dealing out real cards from a studio that looks and feels like a real casino. And just like the big casinos in Windsor and Niagara Falls, online casinos need dealers.
Unfortunately, if you become an online casino dealer, you won’t be working from home. Home-based online casino dealer hiring just isn’t a thing. While you might be able to interview from home, you won’t be able to work from home.
Instead, you’ll be working from a studio instead of a casino. The only difference? The players are at home. And while they can be in their jammies, you’ll be wearing typical dealer attire.
Tips on how to become an online casino dealer in Canada
About to interview for online casino dealer jobs? Here are some tips to help you nail down that online casino dealer career:
✅ Learn every casino game possible
✅ Demonstrate a positive attitude
✅ Smile a lot
✅ Make sure you’re comfortable being on camera all the time
✅ Speak a second language if you can (bilingual dealers are in demand)
How to become an online blackjack dealer
✅ Research the live dealer casino in Canada you want to play at
✅ Learn every Blackjack rule from the dealer’s perspective and the player’s perspective
✅ Understand all side bets
✅ Learn the many online Blackjack variations (remember, the best live dealer casino in Canada offers dozens of different Blackjack games)
✅ Brush up on your math skills — you’ll need to calculate odds and payouts on the fly
Overall online casino dealer salary
Now that you know how to become a dealer at a casino online, you’ll need to know what’s in it for you. The good news? The best live casinos pay handsomely — anywhere from $23 to $31 per hour. And because Canada is so multicultural, live dealer casinos in Canada want to make players of every background feel welcome. That’s why it’s not uncommon to see higher pay for bilingual dealers.
Licensing & Certification: How to get a casino dealer license
The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission licenses dealers in the province of Ontario as gaming assistants. There are two categories of gaming assistant licenses — Category 1 and Category 2.
Category 1 includes those with managerial roles, like table games managers, slot managers, pit bosses, and other supervisors.
Category 2 includes slot technicians, cashiers, and dealers.
You can apply for an Ontario casino dealer license (Category 2) through the Ontario government website. But your employer will likely do this for you — and pay for it.
Should you be a casino dealer? Yes, but only if you love the games
Being a casino dealer isn’t for everyone. You’ll need to be on your feet for hours at a time. You’ll have to deal with the wrath of angry players who are less than happy to lose by faking a smile. And things can get repetitive. But if you love dealing with people, you love casino games, and you enjoy celebrating with strangers when they win, becoming an Ontario casino dealer is a great choice.
Becoming a Casino Dealer FAQ:
To become a casino dealer, you need a high school diploma and proper training from an accredited casino dealer training school or from the casino itself.
A casino pit boss is essentially the manager of a specific zone of table games. For example, when you sit down to play Blackjack, you might be surrounded by other Blackjack tables, 3 Card Poker tables, and Casino War tables. The pit boss manages all the tables in the zone, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
Online casino dealers can earn as much as in-person dealers. In some cases, if you speak a specific in-demand language, you might even be able to learn more as a Live Casino dealer than by working in a physical casino.
To become a casino dealer, learn every game, practice your skills, and register for a dealer training program.
Some online casinos will provide training to new employees interested in becoming a Live Casino dealer. But it always helps to be certified by a casino dealer training institution. The rules of the game are the same as they are in the brick-and-mortar world, so you don’t need to look for a specific online casino dealer training program.
No, you can’t work from home. You’ll need to go into a studio to be a live dealer. If you’re interested in remote casino jobs, consider a customer service role.