Making a living as a traveling poker dealer

[Cisko]

Hello! First of all thank you for all of this information. I have been thinking about doing this exact thing for about a month now and I'm happy that I found that you were already doing it successfully. My biggest concern is that I can't find a dealer school where I am. Currently I'm in St. Paul MN for my wife's graduate school. I've been looking in this area as well as in St. Louis MO (where my parents live) for a dealer school but I can't seem to find any in places other than Vegas, California, or Florida. 

I don't know how you search for these classes, but I can't seem to find any. If you (or any one else here) hears of any in St. Paul or St. Louis, could youpass that info on to me? That would be really great. 

If did find a craigslist post from someone in Branson MO offering dealer training but I didn't know if any casinos or tournaments would accept that as a real training class. The guy claims to have been a wsop dealer in the past. 

Any advice here would be appreciated.
Thank you
Jeff

 

[Reducto]

Hey there! There are several poker rooms in the St Louis area plus several tournament series every year. I would recommend calling Ameristar in St Charles (near St Louis) and Cantebury Park in MN and asking them for info on local classes.

I think I know the person holding that class. She is very good and still does the WSOP every year. I worry about 2 weeks not being enough unless you already have the basics down. I'd ask for references from former students.

 

[CityWoman]

Can a person do this well if they don't really know much about poker? Will a 5-week course be enough for someone to learn if they've never played cards much nor done any gambling before?

 

[Reducto]

It will take you a bit longer to get up to speed but as long as you set aside some time to practice after class with other students it should be fine. I went to school with people who had never even been in a casino before and they made it through just fine. After the first WSOP some liked it and continued, some didn't.

 

[Reducto]

I checked into the Craigslist ad and it is run by the dealer I know. She does know her stuff and is well connected with the WSOP so that is a good option of you want a shorter class. Be prepared to work hard for those 2 weeks.

 

[Patti P]

So, I'm a bit late to the party.....however, I'm in southern New Mexico, am wondering if you know of any schools "down here"....lol...what about on lline schools? I am unfortunately tied to my job, I have a viper for a boss, and though I need the $$$$$ it's putting me in an early grave....by the way....I'm in my mid sixties and my social security really bites....  Generally speaking I'm upbeat, a former school marm, and an  artist.....  I appreciate any help or direction you can help me with....  I've also read the entire thread.  Thanks, Patti

 

[52jokers]

Hi Reducto.

Do you recommend any schools in Vegas and if so which one?

Thanks for all of the information. It's been enlightening.

 

[Reducto]

You're not late - this is actually the perfect time of year to start looking into things if you want to work at the WSOP next Summer. Applications go up around February.

In Las Vegas I've heard nothing but good things about Tony Shelton's school. I'm sure there are other good ones as well.

I know there is a dealing school in Albuquerque as well as some poker rooms, I don't know of anything in the South.

I don't know of any good complete online classes. The Mizrachi school was offering something last year but that seems to be down right now and I don't know how good it was. You could cobble together some study materials on your own and see how far you get. You need some chips and cards - any cheap home poker chip set will do but you need 100% plastic bridge size standard index cards. Most poker sets come with cheap paper cards. Here is one example of a good card set:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IS91AW/

There are some good free beginning videos here:
http://truepokerdealer.com/

Then you could follow up with this book:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1880685477/

Then get more current info here:
http://www.wsopdealersandstaff.com/dealer-information.html

You can practice shuffling on a small ironing board, and pitch on a large table with a blanket over it. If you could get some friends to help you practice that might be enough to get through the audition.

 

[Patti P]

Thank you sir!....I appreciate the info....since I've decided to quit my job and I'm from the ABQ area, I might just check out the school there, certainly your suggestions are great and might actually get me started.

 

[52jokers]

Thanks for responding Reducto! I have you and Bob to thank for sharing this wonderful information.

As an update, today I enrolled at the West Coast Dealing school in Las Vegas. I'm in the middle of becoming a Nevada resident but after all that is taken cared of, my main focus will be on becoming a professional poker dealer.

 

[Paisley777]

Thank you sir!....I appreciate the info....since I've decided to quit my job and I'm from the ABQ area, I might just check out the school there, certainly your suggestions are great and might actually get me started.

Hello,

I am in Bernalillo & work at Rt 66 at the moment.

I got training in Sacramento for price and the adventure. 
I did it based on info I found here and to hopefully use it for traveling.  Got stuck being stationary due to my 88yo grandma falling ill.  That's why I took the local casino job.  Still have my van though and keeping her up to date and running.

Anyway, she is getting healthier and I'm hoping to jump into the circuit even if it's not the WSOP first.  Actually thinking it may be best to start smaller???

Good luck in ABQ!

Paisley

 

[Reducto]

Starting small could be good too, especially since you already have some experience dealing. WSOP is great and the money is good but that 7 weeks in Vegas in the Summer can be a grind. Keep an eye on open positions and see if anything looks good.

 

[Paisley777]

Starting small could be good too, especially since you already have some experience dealing.  WSOP is great and the money is good but that 7 weeks in Vegas in the Summer can be a grind. Keep an eye on open positions and see if anything looks good.

 one thing I'm not very clear on is the one thing I'm not very clear on is the "order of operations" as it were. How does one go about actually getting the job at tournament?
For example, I see a touney coming up in Florida. Do you apply at the casino directly?.. because it doesn't show the position open yet.
How do they accept or reject you? Being out of the state I can't exactly audition. Do you have to go in state for an audition for every tournament for the tourney starts?
Then, how long does it take to get a gaming license in that state? Do you get the gaming license first or after being hired?

 sorry sorry about all the questions. I'm sure there's some sort of a system to this but I'm not getting it yet

 

[Reducto]

WSOP is the only one I know of that requires an audition. The rest simply hire you based on your experience. HR will guide you through the gaming process after you're hired.

If you're on Facebook there are a couple of groups where dealers share information. One is called Poker Dealers Unite and the other is Traveling Poker Dealers are us. You can look through old messages and post your questions there about getting into specific events.

Most of the time you simply apply directly with the casino and wait. Applications tend to go up 1-3 months before the event. HPT events tend to be like this. With some events you also need to email the person running it and let them know you're applying. Most of the WSOP circuit events are like this, as are some in Mississippi. I'd rather not post their contact info here because it changes, best to go to the facebook groups or call HR at the casino and ask them if you need to contact the person running the event as well.

It's all very confusing at first I'm afraid - some tournaments don't hire outside dealers at all, some do but you need to email the right person to get in, some post a job listing even though they only plan on rehiring dealers they're worked with before. Sometimes they put up applications 4 months ahead of time but don't contact anyone until the last minute and we've already booked other jobs. Once you get in somewhere and start talking to people it becomes more clear and you figure out who knows all this stuff.

 

[Paisley777]

I live in NM and we do not have any state gaming licensure.  We only have small, local tribe licenses. 

I have just learned that they will not allow you to hold ANY other gaming license.  I'd understand if it were no other local tribe licenses I guess, but not even another STATE!  If I want to take a few days or weeks to deal a tourney in Nevada, Fla, etc I'll loose my local lic ($175). If I then want to deal here again I'll have to cancel the other.

so, for example...
-Jan 175 local gaming license renewal
- April pay for Nevada license then cancel after event
- July pay AGAIN for local.... assuming they'd be willing to give it at all.

It's ridiculous.

Is this an issue in other places?  Like, does Fla care if I have a Navada lic?


Thanks

 

[Reducto]

Wow, I've never heard of that before. I have licenses in 6 states and 1 tribe and it's never been an issue. There are some states where your license is suspended when you finish a tournament and you have to re-activate before you can work there again but that's the worst of it.

I scanned through your tribe's gaming regulations and didn't see anything about restrictions on working elsewhere. Who gave you that information?

 

[John61CT]

Sounds like that would never hold up in court, unreasonable restrictions on your ability to practice your profession.

Lors of precedent case law around non-competes.

IANAL

 

[Paisley777]

Wow, I've never heard of that before. I have licenses in 6 states and 1 tribe and it's never been an issue. There are some states where your license is suspended when you finish a tournament and you have to re-activate before you can work there again but that's the worst of it.

I scanned through your tribe's gaming regulations and didn't see anything about restrictions on working elsewhere. Who gave you that information?

3 different local dealers.  It'd be nice if they were all wrong.

I'm still going to pursue the traveling/tourney dealing knowing this ~could~ come up as an issue.  I just wanted to be certain I was right that this was crazy and other places don't work like this.

 

[Paisley777]

Sounds like that would never hold up in court, unreasonable restrictions on your ability to practice your profession.

Lors of precedent case law around non-competes.

IANAL

Most laws don't apply to tribal business. :/

 

[John61CT]

Well, I guess saying that's just un-American, doesn't carry much weight