Casino Employment in Singapore
The Croupier - starting career in the casino
How to seek Croupier Job
Career Progression for Croupier
Casino Gaming Supervisors
Casino Departments and Job Positions
Casino Employment in Singapore
In Singapore , Sands Marina Bay (SMB) is on-track to open at the very end of 2009. Its casino is expected to operate close to 800 gaming tables and thousands of slot machines. The casino division alone is projected to hire more than 5,000 employees for its opening. The other Integrated Resort located on Sentosa Island , Resorts World Sentosa ( RWS) is slated to open by end of the first quarter of 2010. The RWS casino floor is expected to offer 500 gaming tables and hire close to 4,000 casino workers.
Jobs will be opened for the Table Games, Slots Operations, Casino Treasury, Casino Marketing and Hosting, Surveillance and Security, Training & Manpower Administration departments of the casino. The bulk of the jobs in the casino will be for the Table Games department which specifically runs the games like Roulette, Baccarat and Blackjack.
Employment opportunities are in abundance for Singaporeans, though for the casino division, experienced casino workers will be required to operate the games particularly in the Supervisory and Management positions. The casinos are expected to hire a number of foreign workers for these positions. This would leave entry level and non-gaming specific jobs open for the locals. We don’t foresee any non-experienced Singaporean offered casino management positions immediately for the opening period, but suitably qualified and motivated individuals are expected to be drafted into Management Development programmes to groom future local casino managers.
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The Croupier - starting career in the casino
The entry-level position in the casino table games section is the ‘croupier’ or also known as the dealer. The croupier is responsible to deal the games such as roulette , blackjack and baccarat. The dealer deals out cards, draws winning numbers and operates equipments. The dealer also monitors the players’ betting; keeps track of all action on the table, making sure the bets are correct, collects losing bets and makes the payments to winners. Of all the casino’s employees, it is the dealer who has the most contact with the players.
A dealer will work in a group of tables usually laid out in a square or oval configuration with a central desk in the middle. The area might have two or more kinds of games in the same area and the dealers are expected to be able to pick up for any other dealer at any other game in the area at a moment’s notice. Casinos rotate the dealers on the floor regularly from game to game, also establishing a rhythm for breaks that don’t interfere with regular play.
A dealer has to be able to run a game seamlessly, without error in play or bet, and be able to quote the rules chapter and verse at a moment’s notice. At the same time, dealers have to be able to spot players before they can break the rules inadvertently while also keeping an eye out for people who are actively trying to cheat the casino. In the USA and Europe nearly all dealers are certified. Experienced dealers, who often are able to attract new or retrun business, have the best job prospects. Dealers with more experience are placed at the ‘high roller” tables.
Casino gaming workers provide entertainment and hospitality to patrons, and the quality of their service contributes to an establishment’s success or failure. Therefore, gaming workers need good communication skills, an outgoing personality, and the ability to maintain their composure even when dealing with angry or demanding patrons. Personal integrity is also important because of the large amount of money they handle.
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How to seek Croupier Job
In Asia traditionally, job-seekers are selected and trained by the casino to deal at least 1 major game before offering them the job to deal games in the casino. The general pre-requisite for hiring will be secondary level education (equivalent to N or O-level) with credits in English and Mathematics, at least of 1.60 meters height, clear complexion and interviewers will look-out for those with a great personality. The suitable age for the position will be between 18 to 28 years. Subject to the legislation, the applicant may be required to gain a Key-Employee License. Un-discharged bankrupts and those criminal records may not qualify for such license.
In Singapore , both IRs are expected to hire up to 70% of their Croupier requirement locally and be trained for to 2-3 months before the opening. Selection is expected to be stringent focusing on those with great personality and service oriented. The salaries for trainee dealers are expected to range between $1800 to $2,200 and after the training period (which may take 6 months on the job–exposure), the salary is expected to reach $2400 - $2600.
Those with prior training and certification to deal ( for example ICG’s CDCG ) are predicted to have as shorter period of break-in training compared to those with no training whatsoever. It can also be expected that Singaporeans with formal training to deal the major games would be the first to be short-listed for interviews by the IRs.
The IRs are expected to start recruitment for Trainee Croupier positions about 5 months before their respective opening dates. This will allow ample time for selection and training prior to opening. Look out of job advertisements and notifications on their respective websites.
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Career Progression for Croupier
Upon starting work as Trainee Croupier, one would spend the next 6-9 months dealing the games they have been trained in (for example Roulette or Blackjack). Such exposure will be required to allow mastery of dealing a game to occur. Subject to manpower situation the casino will gradually allow the croupier to be trained in a few other games. This could take anything between 2-3 years.
Croupier with 2-3 years of dealing experience and ability to deal all the major games in the casino can be considered for the position of Table Games Inspector, the lowest supervisory position in the casino operations. As in any career progression schemes, the prospective candidate imust meet various requirements to be selected for promotion. This could include portrayal of the right attitudes such as diligence, loyalty, integrity, excellent discipline and demonstrated skills of conducting the games.
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Casino Gaming Supervisors
Floor Supervisors oversee gaming operations and personnel in an assigned area. Starting from the lowest position such as an Inspectors, Pit Supervisor, Pit Boss ( Pit Manager ), Shift Manager and Floor Manager are deemed as casino gaming supervisory positions. Circulating among tables, they ensure that all stations and games are attended to for each shift. It is also common for supervisors to interpret the casino’s operating rules for patrons and to enforce them among the dealers. Supervisors may also plan and organize activities for guests staying in their casino hotel. Periodically, they address – and make adjustments for – service complaints.
Floor supervisors in the casino must have leadership qualities and good communication skills. They need these skills both to supervise employees effectively and to greet patrons to encourage return visits. In the USA , most casino supervisory staff have and associate or bachelor’s degree. Supervisors who do not have a degree usually substitute hands-on experience for formal education. Regardless of their educational background, however, most supervisors gain experience in dealer function before moving into supervisory positions because knowledge of games and casino operations is essential to perform their floor management duties.
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Casino Departments and Job Positions
Gaming occupational titles and duties vary from one establishment to another. Despite differences in job title and tasks, however, workers perform many of the same basic functions in all casinos. The table below summarizes the departments and positions in the various departments of the casino.
Click here to view the table
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