Jeffrey | Poker Strategy

Whether you’re playing at a real casino or popping into the top live casinos at Casinopedia.org the dealer is the one of most important aspects of the game. The dealer plays the part of the invisible gatekeeper; he runs the games, he keeps things flowing, and he keeps both gamblers and the action under control. If he’s there, you won’t notice him, but if he’s not, you will.

A good dealer, or croupier, is essential for a good game at a casino. But what are the prerequisites that a dealer must have? We take a closer look into the lives of dealers.

1. Knowledge of the rules

Knowing how each casino game must be played is essential for a dealer. They must know the rules of the game better than anyone whether it’s roulette, blackjack or the different variations of poker. And, as mentioned in the paragraph above, a good dealer will hardly be noticeable – so if they make a blunder, the whole flow of the game will be ruined.

This isn’t only annoying for players but also potentially compromising; a broken game means a broken concentration, and in a game such as poker – wherein focus is of utmost importance to winning – such a thing can be very costly.

There must also be no difference whatsoever in the way that dealers conduct their games. The worst thing for a player is to be put off mid-game by a dealer who wants to mix things up.

2. Communication skills

An intrusive dealer – as hinted at above – is a bad one, and instead they should aim to be entertaining and active. Every dealer knows that their casino always has favourable odds over players, but that shouldn’t stop them from ensuring that every player is enjoying their table time.

Casinos see a mix of people, however, and it is in the dealer’s interest to get the hint and act on it when a player does not want to engage. Some people will be there simply to gamble, and hitting that balance is crucial for dealers; players won’t want their night ruined by an overly talkative dealer.

3. Keeping the game moving

Casinos are, by nature, fact-paced environments. For this reason, a slow-moving dealer can infuriate players. Dealers will need to keep the game flowing nicely at the same time as controlling its parts and preventing lengthy interruptions in gameplay.

But a slow-moving dealer won’t only harm the player; it’ll harm the house, too. This is due to the fact that long pauses during gameplay give gamblers time to think, and therefore some degree of advantage. Some people have caught onto this, and they’ll try to slow the dealer down.

Of course, time to think and make informed decisions is good for the player, and the best dealers recognize that. They will therefore try to strike balance between a fast- and slow-paced game.

4. Physical skills

When it comes to dealing, a good show is as important as knowledge of the rules. They must shuffle the cards in a tightly controlled manner to avoid lifting them too high above the table, and this, in itself, is often seen as a form of art.

Dealers must always deliver the cards to the players as smoothly as is possible, ensuring accuracy, and – above all – some degree of personality.

But even more important than this is the payout process. They’ll also need great math and concentration skills to be able to keep on top of who to pay, how much is to pay, whether or not a pot is split, how that must be dealt with, and more, all while ensuring that the gameplay show is not compromised.

Just for one moment, consider how difficult and physically taxing that all of this must be while standing at a potentially loud and boisterous table for hours on end. It’s quite a magnificent feat.

5. Mental challenges

Sometimes, however, the physical challenges of being a good dealer are the least of their worries; players – particularly those on a losing streak – may break game rules, intimidate other players or the dealer themselves, or even become verbally violent.

The dealer, as gatekeeper, must always be prepared to step in when necessary, and the more often they can intervene before a real problem starts to kick off, the better. Spotting the signs of impending trouble is crucial, and acting to prevent it requires guts.

The bottom line

The bottom line is that dealers are the casino’s frontmen, and everything they do must reflect the casino’s personality, professionalism, and sense of fun. Striking that all-important balance between fast and slow, fun and sensible, and unique and mechanical is a delicate feat to achieve.

Not to mention that doing all of this simultaneously is part of their job contract. It takes great skill and dedication to the art to become a good dealer, so if, on your next casino trip, you come across one who manages all this and more, consider letting them know. They’ll appreciate it.

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