With the gambling market booming, the role of the casino dealer is becoming an increasingly enticing career prospect for many. As demand for dealers continues to rise, an estimated 43,370 jobs will be filled in the US by 2029, opening up a promising path for those interested in the industry.

While entry-level positions offer modest wages, the potential for substantial earnings is significant. Typically, dealers start with a baseline rate (with experienced individuals earning more) and boost their income through tips or “tokes,” as they’re known in the industry. Historically, dealers pocketed these tokes directly. Now, casinos are adopting a more even-handed approach by pooling and distributing them among staff.

Although Las Vegas would appear to be the pinnacle of lucrative tips for casino dealers, the reality is more complex. In an oversaturated market such as Sin City, where staff numbers are large, tip-sharing often results in lukewarm wages. In 2024, the average salary for casino dealers in Nevada is $19.96 an hour, closely aligning with the national average of $19.25 per hour. Nevada didn’t even make the list of the top five highest-paying states. The ranking is as follows.

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Arizona: The average salary of casino dealers in Arizona is $66,370 yearly, the highest in the nation, with 1760 employed.

Washington: In Washington, 4030 dealers make an average of $61,290 annually.

New York: New York employs 1660 dealers, making an average of $56,080 annually.

West Virginia: The 630 casino dealers in West Virginia average $55,700 a year.

New Jersey: With 3490 dealers, New Jersey offers an average of $46,120 annually.

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Aspiring casino dealers should carefully consider location and casino size when searching for opportunities. Nonetheless, many find that job satisfaction can outweigh these elements.

Jeffrey Biship, a former dealer in Missouri, said: “I dealt blackjack and craps in the worst casino in St. Louis. But even in the worst casino in probably one of the worst gambling markets in America, it had its definite plusses. On a good night, it was a blast. Sometimes I couldn’t believe that I was paid to have so much fun.”

Heather Ferris, founder and CEO of Vegas Aces and former Las Vegas dealer, said: “Dealing table games was the best job I ever had! Once you know how to deal, you don’t even think about it anymore. It becomes routine. So basically, you spend your entire time talking to people from all around the world…”

She also highlighted how events can significantly boost tips, “Special events or holidays, such as boxing matches or New Year’s Eve, can drastically increase a dealer’s tips. For example, during the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, some dealers made up to $1500 in a single shift.”

As potential dealers enter the industry, setting realistic expectations and balancing enjoyment, salary and location is essential.

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For more about casino dealer salaries in 2024, check out Heather Ferris’s article at Online United States Casinos, where she dives deep into pay rates and shares insights from her first-hand experience navigating this career.

Online United States Casinos is a comprehensive resource for gambling information with an adept team of specialists committed to accuracy. It is dedicated to empowering readers to make well-informed choices through in-depth research, unbiased reviews, and expert insights.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Bally’s and SC Gaming announced the termination of their agreement to open and operate a Category 4 satellite casino near Penn State University at the Nittany Mall. Despite the split, the project remains on track to open in the first half of 2026. The decision comes three years after the two companies agreed to develop a “mini casino” in what was previously a Macy’s department store at the Nittany Mall, located just five miles from Penn State’s campus.

FanDuel, North America’s premier online gaming company, has announced it has appointed Caralyn Cooley as the company’s new Chief People Officer (CPO). Cooley will join FanDuel’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) reporting to CEO Amy Howe. In her role as CPO, Cooley will be responsible for the continued acceleration of FanDuel’s people strategy reflecting the company’s extraordinary growth trajectory.

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Interblock, the global leader in luxury table gaming products, has taken a significant step in strengthening its market leadership with the acquisition of majority share in Zuum Limited (acquisition), a premier manufacturer of Class II and Class III electronic table games (ETGs), slots, and bingo products. This strategic acquisition will enable Interblock to deliver a broader range of innovative and cost-effective gaming solutions to its customers while driving significant growth in key markets.

JCM Global (JCM) has successfully passed regulatory review and is now licensed by the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. This license enables JCM to sell and service customers directly throughout the state. This license is the latest in JCM’s wide array of awarded gaming licenses across North America and around the world and underscores JCM’s commitment to holding itself to the highest regulatory standards. JCM now maintains more than 170 active gaming licenses.

Partnerships

CT Interactive, a global provider of online gaming solutions, has announced the launch of its games on Novibet’s platforms for Mexico (www.novibet.mx) . This partnership underscores CT Interactive’s commitment to expanding its reach and delivering high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide. Striving to offer exciting content to its users, Novibet.mx will now feature a selection of CT Interactive’s newest and most innovative games.

Hardware platform and embedded software solutions specialist Quixant has partnered with Novatrade as it continues its expansion in the Brazilian market. Novatrade specialise in expanding and accelerating organisations’ international presence and operations, with tailored solutions for every expansion phase. This collaboration positions Quixant to better support its customers in the rapidly evolving Brazilian market, as sports betting and online gaming are legalised.

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Playtech announced its games supplier partnership with Rush Street Interactive. This strategic collaboration has proven successful with the launch of a variety of slots and live dealer games, on RSI platforms across New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Mexico under the multi-state agreement, underscoring the strong demand and performance of Playtech’s products in these markets.

SYNOT Games has made further expansion into the Peruvian market through a partnership with Betsafe, one of Betsson Group’s brands. This collaboration underscores SYNOT Games’ commitment to growing its footprint in Latin America and bringing its top-quality, innovative games to a broader audience.