Craps/blackjack dealer experience

Dealing craps is a craft that takes years to master and the pay is better than most blue collar jobs. Breaking in at 25 cent joints such as the Cal Neva in Reno speeds up the process, because the paying of 25 cent units prepares the craps dealer for the swank joints in Las Vegas. As in everything in most jobs, we must start at the bottom before moving up. The players blame the shooter when they lose, not the craps dealer, while the blackjack dealer gets the blame for beating them. Casino management is only concerned about the speed of the game if the craps table is losing and only require the dealers to keep the "dice in the air." Good craps dealers are always in demand because of the skill required and is the best choice for stable employment in the casino industry.

A monkey can learn to deal blackjack and these dealers are treated like dirt by the pit and players. I sometimes was forced to deal blackjack and couldn't stand it, so I moved on to Las Vegas to deal craps exclusively. Working as a dealer gives a card counter an additional edge because it gives knowledge of the inner workings of the "enemy". Pit bosses have noticed the shuffling of my chips while playing blackjack and always ask if I am/was a craps dealer, because craps dealers shuffle chips different from civilians. Almost always given a free pass card counting in casinos and knowing what to say to the dealers and pit to keep the heat off also helps. Everyone young enough should work as a dealer for a couple of years to secure life long success at card counting, before getting a legit job.