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Canadian Casino Employment

By Alexander Liam.
Fact checked by Wilbur Thompson.

The opportunities for employment nearly defy the imagination as more and more casinos run as multimillion-dollar enterprises, with all the amenities, services, and extras that make them complete resort complexes like Casino Niagara, Woodbine Casino, and Fallsview Casino Resort.

Such places must staff their marketing, sales, accounting, hotel, restaurant, and entertainment departments, keep their large casino floors clean and provide people to operate all the games around-the-clock, seven days a week. As a result, thousands of workers in various positions are employed by casino resorts. They provide a great number of career prospects for individuals with past expertise in the hotel industry. However, newcomers frequently begin in smaller spaces. These smaller casinos may not be as glitzy as the well-known ones, but they still have a role and shouldn’t be disregarded in your employment quest. Employees frequently advance to the more prominent resort-themed establishments from the smaller settings, where they often take on more duties at an early stage, learn the specifics of the work more quickly, and make connections.

Accounting Jobs

It is no surprise that casinos, especially newer ones, have big accounting and financial planning departments in a sector that produces billions of dollars annually.

Extreme attention to detail, solid arithmetic abilities, and organizational skills are necessary for accounting jobs. Most often, employers also demand that their staff members have completed some college coursework in either accounting or business.

The accounting division is in charge of creating financial statements, collecting taxes and payrolls, managing bank reconciliations, and taking care of other financial issues. Typical jobs for the accounting department are the controller, assistant controller, internal auditor, payroll specialist, income control specialist, financial planning manager, staff accountant, general ledger specialist, and accounts payable specialist. This department frequently employs support staff like secretaries and bookkeepers with less experience.

Entertainment Department Jobs

The game business has a tight relationship with stunning showgirls, dancers, amazing magicians, and famous singers. Casinos have learned through time that entertainment is what they have to provide. In order to entice customers into their facilities and keep them there, owners rely on enormous production numbers and star shows. The entertainment division frequently manages unique events and promotions in addition to the conventional revues and ongoing shows. Consider applying for jobs through this department if you have experience in theatre, music, dance, public relations, or communications. Promotions coordinators, special event managers, audio technicians, stage managers, wardrobe staff, lighting technicians, and ticket takers are among the entertainment positions.

Food and Beverage Department Jobs

This department offers a lot of entry-level positions. The jobs available to those with little to no prior experience include hosts and hostesses, cocktail servers, waiters, banquet servers, dishwashers, bar porters, and bus attendants, to name just a few. Due to the tips, jobs related to delivering food and drinks to clients can be highly lucrative. Candidates should be in good physical condition and have the capacity to move swiftly because the majority of jobs need a lot of manual work.

Human Resources Jobs

The recruiting and training of casino staff takes a lot of effort. Anyone can get an excellent insight into the casino’s processes and rules by becoming a part of the human resources department and being introduced to other areas of operation. In certain casinos, this section also handles licensing and legal matters. The following positions are available: director of personnel, manager of compensation and benefits, benefits clerk, manager of employee relations, coordinator of records, training specialist, and interviewer. Although not always in a related subject, many human resources roles call for at least some college degree, although not necessarily in a related field. 

Marketing and Sales Jobs

Casinos are a significant industry nowadays, so they must constantly sell and promote their services. Additionally, this office frequently organizes media relations with staff members, striving to ensure that their unique events receive local and national media attention. Although the department hires individuals with different backgrounds, usually they should have expertise in or a keen interest in marketing, advertising, public relations, or sales. Marketing manager, sales director, account executive, marketing program analyst, convention services manager, tour host, public relations director, and publicist are typical roles of marketing and sales jobs.

Security Jobs

“Gaming surveillance officers” have held more than one million positions over the previous two years. These officers are security guards, but solely insofar as gaming-related security is concerned. Security personnel working in various businesses have distinct duties in some specific areas. Interacting with casino clients and management are surveillance agents, as they are sometimes frequently referred to. Employers place a strong focus on hiring qualified candidates for casino security positions.

Although a bachelor’s degree is not often required for security jobs, some training beyond high school is essential. There are certification programs available, and classroom instruction is frequently carried out using surveillance camera technology in a casino-like setting. Employers clearly favour candidates with relevant expertise in casino operations and background in law enforcement or investigation.

The majority of security guards and surveillance officers may anticipate spending a lot of time on their feet, either when monitoring a specific area around their posts or other buildings and grounds.

To monitor electronic security and surveillance equipment or to verify the identification of anybody entering or leaving the facility, they can be positioned at a desk within the structure. A station might also be a guardhouse at a gated facility’s entrance. A portable radio or a mobile phone are frequently used by guards to be in continual communication with a central security station. Guards are required to remain vigilant for dangers to both themselves and the casino’s property all the time. But in fact, their regular work sometimes can be dull.

While nighttime gaming surveillance officers are often “behind the scenes,” monitoring many cameras in a casino at once and frequently experiencing eye strain, daytime guards typically interact frequently with the general public.

There is also a subcategory that can be called uniformed casino security officers. Some casinos hire people to patrol the casino grounds to keep things in order and report any issues or worries to the security shift supervisor. It is an entry-level job that may be seasonal in some locations. Depending on the requirements of the specific casino, it could also be part- or full-time. Security officers in uniform typically start out earning the minimum salary.

Casino Change Attendants

The demand for staff to serve the sector has increased as a result of so many casinos dedicating more and more room to slot machines.

Change attendants offer change to players in the casino’s slot area. They are often referred to as change experts, slot change people, floor change attendants, or in other similar forms. They frequently drive a cart with a little change bank on it. They also serve as cashiers for some of the biggest slot machines with jackpots. For instance, the machine’s standard payout would be $100, or four hundred quarters. If a player won the $1,000 jackpot, the change clerk would take large bills for the remaining $900. Since change attendants must move their carts back and forth across the slot area rather than standing still, this job may be physically demanding for some. It is entry-level employment for which no prior experience is necessary. Employees in this role frequently begin at the minimum wage but may end up making more by tips.

Hard Count Attendants

In these and related hard count professions, employees generally count coins, wrap them, and prepare them in various ways for bank drops or to be placed back on the floor. People hired to count change often do so in the hard count room, away from the distractions of the casino floor. Soft count attendants, in their turn, operate only with paper or “soft” cash, and it is usually not a separate appointment but a part of cage cashier duties. Hard count attendant is an entry-level position in the majority of casinos, reporting to either the hard count lead or hard count manager. You must have great math abilities. Experience working as a cashier before is advantageous. Hard count workers are often compensated hourly at or somewhat below minimum wage.

Cage Cashier Jobs

Every casino has a “cage area,” which serves as the establishment’s financial center. The majority of significant financial operations take place in the “cage area,” including the granting of credit lines to consumers with the approval of credit managers or other casino executives. Cash entering the cage area from a variety of sources must be recorded by cage cashiers. Typically, they count out cash, carry out elementary accounting operations, and assist in troubleshooting reconciliation needs. Reconciliation often takes place every day or every shift. All currency and its substitutes, such as chips and credit slips, are inventoried by staff. Cashiers also manage consumer chip swaps. Outstanding math and organizing skills are required for such a job. Experience working as a cashier before will always be advantageous. It is an entry-level role that answers to the lead cashier, cage manager, or cage cashier supervisor. Cage cashiers often earn a salary or hourly income that begins at somewhat more than minimum wage, without the advantage of tips.

Casino Hosts

Although this position may technically fall under the purview of the marketing and sales division, sometimes it breaks out as a separate appointment because this staff spends a lot of time on the casino floor interacting with VIP patrons. The role of hosts is more akin to that of “goodwill ambassadors” than anything else. Their main job is to welcome high rollers and other special clients into the casino and provide informational support during their stay. The casino host is also often in charge of issuing comps, which can take the form of free lodging, admission to floorshows, or other different benefits and freebies, just like casino managers and other higher-level staff members.

Floor Jobs

A floorperson monitors gameplay at several tables, particularly keeping an eye out for any signs of cheating or house rules violations. A floorperson also assists with maintaining supplies and equipment as well as coordinating dealer schedules. Employees in this mid-level job are placed under the pit supervisors. The majority of floor employees have previously worked as dealers and are fully knowledgeable about several casino games. Floorpersons sometimes suffer a wage reduction since they no longer get tips from players, despite the fact that their job is a promotion from the dealer.

Pit Clerks

Pit clerks assist pit supervisors in keeping track of players’ current average bets and researching past betting patterns to calculate comp rates. In addition, pit clerks enter more forms into the casino computer system and distribute markers in accordance with pit bosses’ instructions. Accurate typing proficiency and prior data entry expertise are useful qualities for this job. Many pit clerks transition from their roles as soon as dealer opportunities become available. Pit clerks do not earn tips and are paid hourly pay that often begins one or two dollars over the minimum wage.

Pit Supervisors

Pit supervisors are accountable to the casino management for keeping an eye out for player misconduct or cheating, and they will take action to oust suspected card counters and other players who may have devised strategies that change the chances of winning in their favour. They also keep an eye on other pit employees, such as the floor people and pit clerks, for signs of theft or any connections to dishonest players. Additionally, pit supervisors typically have years of prior casino experience. They have to manage customer complaints about dealers and oversee the operation of the table games at their specific station. They also assist with scheduling pit personnel breaks.

Slot Technicians

Slot mechanics, also known as slot technicians, are often required to have a background in electronics or mechanical or to have received specific training in the subject. They are in charge of inspecting, debugging and fixing slot machines. The technician plays a crucial role at modern casinos because a significant amount of revenue is earned by the usage of slot machines. Because they frequently operate under pressure and tend to many equipment throughout a shift, technicians need to be dependable. There aren’t many entry-level roles available because turnover in this field is often low. However, more positions for slot technicians will be generated when more casinos open.

Keno Writers and Runners

Keno needs a sizable workforce. Players must turn in their tickets and bets to either a keno writer stationed in the keno lounge or a keno runner roaming the other parts of the casino before the numbers are drawn.

Keno players’ original or “master ticket” is taken by keno writers, who record the numbers on a second ticket (the “duplicate”), handing the duplicate back to the player while retaining the original. With more than two hundred games played in a single day and hundreds of players, the process of producing duplicate keno tickets for players sometimes requires staff members to interpret hundreds of potential bets. The face of the duplicate ticket lists not only the selected numbers but also the game number and the date. This strategy stops players from marking tickets after a game in an attempt to cheat.

In some of the bigger casinos, keno players get a lot of exercise through running. They go to the keno writer with the master ticket and come back with the duplicate. In certain casinos, keno writers also act as the game’s bank, accepting bets and paying out wins when the game is over. Both professions need swift addition of numbers, attention to detail, and customer service abilities. People skills may be especially important for those working as keno runners because many of them deal with rude clients who try to blame them for their gambling losses. For both the runner and writer professions, the majority of casinos provide specific training. 

Casino Dealers

When it comes to roulette, the game usually needs just one dealer to operate the game. The job of the roulette dealer includes converting money or casino chips into roulette chips, spinning the wheel and dropping the ball, watching to make sure players don’t place their bets too late, marking the winning number with a marker, collecting chips, and paying out winning wagers. The dealer must also switch the roulette chips for either casino chips or cash when a player departs the table. Similar to other dealer roles, candidates should have some necessary technical expertise and game knowledge, strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to add up and count out chips and cash very fast. Dealers make an hourly pay, often at or slightly above minimum wage, with a significant percentage of their revenue coming from tips. If the dealer has been kind and helpful, most players will tip after significant winnings or at the very least before getting up to go. Additionally, it’s customary to leave a sizable gratuity after winning a straight-up wager in roulette. The dealer can spend their whole shift at an empty table because playing roulette is less popular than blackjack or craps.

The only employee involved in a poker game is a poker dealer, who is in charge of converting money into casino chips, shuffles the cards, checks that all antes have been added, deals the cards at the start of the game and in between betting rounds, confirms that all bets are accurate, designates who places the first wager, and evaluates the hands to determine the winner. Players seldom ever bother the dealer since they compete against one another rather than the establishment. Poker also has a reputation as a “thinking person’s game” due to its many variations and betting methods.

One more game that is often played with a dealer is pai gow. Before each hand, the dealer randomly arranges the tiles on the table and divides them into equal stacks. The first player to get a stack of tiles is decided by rolling three dice by the Pai Gow dealers to start the game. Additionally, the dealer instructs players on how to correctly interpret their tiles and arrange them to form the strongest hands. Dealers, however, must never advise a player on how much to wager. The player is ultimately responsible for that action. Candidates must have technical game-related capabilities, as well as with other dealer roles, and strong interpersonal and communication abilities. It’s also vital to have swift addition skills. This game has the potential to go quickly and yield solid tips, particularly given the likelihood of many contacts between the dealer and players. However, because they are unfamiliar with pai gow, many gamblers avoid the tables. Because the tables appear to be vacant at all times, several casino staff members call this the worst job on the floor. Some people think it’s a fascinating profession since it takes a lot of practice to learn how to read the cards and place the tiles correctly to make winning hands. And when pai gow players do sit down at a table, they almost certainly won’t leave until they’ve played for hours on end, tipping the dealer generously for their good fortune.

Blackjack dealers oversee the game and are responsible for dealing and shuffling the cards, taking bets, paying out winning hands, converting cash into house chips, changing chips into larger or smaller denominations, and frequently assisting players by providing advice or answering questions. Blackjack dealers also affect the outcome of the game by breaking a new deck or reshuffling the cards. The pace of the deal is also at the dealer’s discretion, which may help or impede a player from focusing on a choice. The job of a blackjack dealer involves rapid counting, general manual dexterity, and exceptional communication skills, especially when dealing with difficult clients. While some more seasoned players may remain silent their entire time at a table, blackjack is often a social game in which players converse with other players or the dealer in between hands. Such a job could be advantageous or detrimental. A player appears to talk more the less they understand how to play blackjack. Players could become obsessed with the idea that the dealer is either their best friend or greatest enemy.

When referring to the Baccarat and Craps games, four dealers are needed. The box person supervises the action and keeps an eye on the table money while remaining seated. He keeps an eye on the game being played, resolves issues between players and the dealer, and checks any dice that are thrown off the table for flaws. There may be two box persons at highly crowded tables. The stick person, the second team member, is positioned opposite the box person and is in charge of the layout’s central area. Using a flexible stick, the sticker person moves the dice back to the shooter after each roll. Additionally, the Diller calls out each dice throw, fostering conversation at the table. At either end of the table, two more dealers serve as the players’ point of contact. They take the money from the players and exchange it for chips, set the “buck” (a little plastic disk) in the corner number box to denote the point, manage all place bets, shift come and don’t come bets to the place number boxes, gather lost bets, and pay out winnings. Anyone interested in working at the craps table would first go through rigorous training to master all the positions. As this is often a high-energy game, craps dealers require exceptional communication skills, manual dexterity, and the capacity to think and respond rapidly. Additionally necessary are math abilities. Casinos rotate their craps dealers so that each one has a turn at a different task and can maintain their composure. Dealers are permitted to advise players on winning wagers or to urge them to collect their winnings before the following roll.

Casino Manager Jobs

The casino manager is often at the top of the corporate food chain and has the extensive administrative experience required. However, a lot of managers rise through the ranks, beginning working as dealers or pit managers. A casino manager’s duty is to make sure that the games are held in accordance with laws and regulations. However, managers have some discretion to change the game rules as they see appropriate or, more crucially, to increase the house edge.