Considering training to be a dealer -- any thoughts?

QuadsOverQuads · #1 01-10-2005, 12:08 AM

As the title says, I'm very seriously considering becoming a licensed poker dealer, and I'm looking for any guidance that the good people of 2+2 can offer.

I've talked with a few of the dealers I've gotten to know over the past couple of years, and I've actually contacted a couple of local "dealer schools". Neither of the schools impressed me too much (one tried to hawk some "poker-player special" that basically sounded like a ripoff, and the other, while better, was still just a hole in the wall in a strip mall). I also had a chat with one of the floor managers at one of the larger rooms I've played at, and she mentioned that there were some schools in the Nevada area that are respected in the field. I've done what searching I can online, but it's pretty hard to separate the wheat from the chaff with just looking at web pages.

So, here I am, looking for info and experiences.

Can anyone here recommend good sources of information about dealer schools? Particularly, I'm interested in which ones are reputable and which ones are just scams, and I'm especially interested in the whole question of job placement assistance once training is completed (do certain schools actually have pull at certain rooms, or is that mostly just talk? All voices-of-experience appreciated).

Also, is it standard for dealers to have to work as prop players while starting out? That's the deal one outfit tried to pitch to me, and I'm not at all clear as to what to make of it (note: I am familiar with how prop player situations work, but I'm not sure I really want to be doing that, since I'm primarily a small tournament player, and my bankroll at the moment is pretty weak by ring game standards, albeit more than sufficient for small SNG play).

Lastly, would it be better for me to just bag the schools alltogether and go with private training from one of the dealers I already know? The floor manager I talked to was clear that "they're not supposed to be doing that", but a lot of the dealers I know did get private training from one of the other dealers there. Does this affect licensing in any states? Argh, so much that I really don't know, but need to learn fast if I'm going to make this work.

Another complicating factor I should also mention: at the end of my first year, before I actually learned to *play*, I had myself formally banned from the Muckleshoot room, south of Seattle (note: this was at my request, not theirs). I'm not expecting to find employment there, but I am concerned that this may cause problems for me when it comes to applying at other area rooms (also, will this come up when I have to get a background check for my license?).

I'll be looking into all of these questions aggressively in the next week or two, but I can't think of a better place to start out than here.

Any and all help/advice/experiences/warnings/whatever will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

q/q

bigfishead · #2 01-10-2005, 01:08 AM

Personally I never went to a school. I dont know if they even had them when I started. I would go the private route with a dealer with good skills. No it wont affect you getting a gaming permit. Gaming could care less if you know how to deal or not. Maybe after help from a local dealer you can find a small room with 4-6 tables and get some experience. Enough where you know your mechanics are good and you can pass an audition in a larger well run room.

LEARN OMAHA/8!! play it a little to get used to chops and how they work out. Stack the chips 20 high....no more. Bring them into the midle in 20 stacks. Not in a big pile. Whne you do this in an audition you will pass instantly if you have decent mechanicle skills.

Best wishes

QuadsOverQuads · #3 01-10-2005, 06:12 PM

Thanks for the info.

Also wondering: did you have to start out sitting in as a prop player? I know the Silver Dollar rooms around here require that (or so I've been told, anyway), but I'm not sure how standard that is. Gonna make a trip out to a couple smaller rooms tonight and see if I can dig up some more info on that aspect, but any broader perspective you could offer would be very much appreciated.

q/q

bobbyi · #4 01-10-2005, 06:53 PM

I don't know anything about dealing schools, but I can tell you that if you have no bankroll and aren't used to ring games, you should absolutely avoid anything that is going to force you to be a prop. The point of a job is to make money, and if you are going to be forced to play in games that you aren't used to and don't have the bankroll for, you are going to go broke before you have the chance to get a career as a dealer. It's just a really bad idea.

Good luck.

juanez · #5 01-10-2005, 09:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
LEARN OMAHA/8!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent advice!! I had an audition in Black Hawk this afternoon and they had us all mainly deal Omaha/8. Most dealers had a pretty hard time reading the cards. Only one casino here spreads O/8 and only on certain nights, so nobody really deals it that often. If you can handle dealing O/8, you can hadle anything, and hold em will seem like childs play.

smoore · #6 01-10-2005, 10:42 PM

Make sure you can take the heat. I'm qualifed to spread the cards, take the bets, push the pot. I've never dealt in a casino. I considered making my living as a dealer so I started watching them... people f'in ABUSE the dealers. I couldn't handle it, I'd end up throwing cards back at some dumbass after he threw them at me for not flipping his two outer up, I'd get fired.

Oh, and yeah... learn Omaha8. That's gold for a dealer.

ricochet420 · #7 01-10-2005, 10:43 PM

What are background requirements? I mean as far as charges and criminal. Are they mainly looking for felonys, drugs, and stealing/embezzlement? Or do small misdemeanors play a factor?

Sorry for the highjack. I have been pondering this question, but am worried about background check stuff.

smoore · #8 01-10-2005, 10:45 PM

background check in colorado = no fraud felonies, no tax liability, no court judgements. that's it.

juanez · #9 01-10-2005, 11:21 PM

....also for Colorado, no child support payment issues (maybe this is a court judgement thing?).

sucka · #10 01-11-2005, 12:16 AM

I had myself formally banned from the Muckleshoot room

No offence - but that doesn't sound very good.

Not sure what problems you seem to be having/had in your life but perhaps working in a casino isn't (excuse the pun) in the cards for you?

If you are banning yourself from cardrooms how can you expect to make a living in there?