How Much Do Online Casino Dealers Make?

With the online casino industry growing into a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise, the number of job opportunities in this field has steadily increased. Live dealer positions offer a promising career path for socially savvy people who want an entry-level route into the industry.

The job requires in-depth knowledge of casino gaming, consistent execution of game procedures, and strong communication skills. If you believe you can meet these requirements, the next logical question is: how much do online casino dealers make? Let’s take a look in more detail.

What is the average online casino dealer salary?

In the US, dealers at online casinos earn an estimated $66,562 a year, with $48,648 being the base pay and tips accounting for another $17,914 on average.

A fair share of croupiers reported hourly earnings of $18, but these can exceed $40 in some instances. Note that the number of hours can vary and is often not fixed.

Base pay differs depending on the location, with higher salaries typically found in states like New Jersey and California.

For comparison, the average online casino dealer salary in the UK is between £28,000 and £42,000 annually ($36k and $54k). On the other hand, US land-based casino dealers earn $33,000–$58,000 in base pay, with tips adding $8,000–$16,000 on a yearly basis. Keep in mind that previous experience in the field is another important factor.

How much do casino dealers make in tips?

Online croupiers typically earn between $13,000 and $25,000 a year in tips, which is around a third of their average annual earnings. However, the company you apply for also plays a role.

For example, MGM Grand live games allow players to tip specific dealers with any amount. So, if the stakes or winnings go high, more generous tips are likely to follow. In fact, high-stakes games or VIP tables can yield tips worth 3%–10% of winnings.

Evolution Gaming, on the other hand, pools tips and distributes them based on hours worked.

However, traditional casinos still lead in this regard, with some land-based dealers reporting $200–$300 in tips per night. These gambling venues boast an established tipping culture, especially in the US, which can double the dealers’ base pay on a good day.

Is an online casino dealer a good job?

Yes, working as an online casino croupier serves as an excellent entry point into the iGaming industry. It’s extra fun if you enjoy casino games, have a cheerful personality, and thrive in the excitement of a live environment. The potential to earn tips is certainly another driving factor.

Also, working online creates a barrier between you and the patrons, so you’re less likely to deal with troublemakers or emotional players. The potential downside, though, is that closer interaction generally nets higher tips.

For those seeking growth, the job has clear pathways to becoming a shift supervisor or manager. That said, the role does come with some challenges — inconvenient shift patterns, including nights and weekends, are common, and there can be occasional quiet periods when player activity is low.

Do live casino dealers earn more than land-based dealers?

Live casino and land-based dealers earn similar base salaries, typically ranging from $15 to $20 per hour. However, land-based dealers are typically paid more, mainly due to the added complexity of manually calculating payouts — particularly in roulette, where multiple players place bets on different sections of the table.

Dealers in smaller venues or with little experience earn approximately $35,000 in base pay. On the other hand, those in top Las Vegas casinos like Bellagio or Wynn Resorts can make between $56,000 and $93,000 per year, tips included.

What is the role of online casino dealers?

Online casino dealers manage classic table games in a virtual environment. Their responsibilities include executing game procedures accurately and interacting with players in real time.

The best online casino dealers know how to create an engaging experience, which leads to increased player satisfaction and often larger tips.

Roulette

As one of the more beginner-friendly casino games, your role as a live roulette dealer is to operate the wheel. This involves spinning it in a particular manner, releasing the ball accurately to avoid a respin, and sometimes commentating on game outcomes.

Still, remember that you need to spin the wheel and ball at different speeds each time to avoid creating predictable patterns that players could exploit. Also, the ball must be released in the opposite direction and at a steady speed — not too slow or too fast — to ensure fairness and avoid mechanical bias.

Blackjack

In online blackjack, your job is to deal cards to the players and yourself according to the game rules. To execute the hand, you’ll scan each card using a special reader next to the deck, which registers the card’s value on the system and displays it on-screen for the players.

Once all cards are dealt, you follow the players’ instructions and then draw your own cards until reaching the required value. Shuffling is typically handled by another staff member, while payouts are automatically calculated by the system. Your primary focus is ensuring each card is scanned correctly to prevent gameplay errors.

Baccarat

In baccarat, your role is to manage the cards for both the Player and Banker hands while keeping the game running smoothly. You must strictly follow the drawing rules — for example, when a third card is required for the Player hand — and ensure each card is scanned properly so the system registers them without error.

While less complex than blackjack, baccarat is often faster-paced, which can pose an additional challenge for the dealer.

Poker

In online poker, you’ll need to handle house variants like Casino Hold’em. Your focus is mainly on scanning drawn cards accurately and monitoring community cards.

A dealer with a strong understanding of Texas Hold’em hands can offer a running commentary on the game, such as explaining the player’s chances of winning after the flop is drawn, while also addressing any questions or issues that arise during the game.

Specialty games

For games like Dragon Tiger, Craps, or Teen Patti, you must adapt to more unique setups, some of which require additional training. You’ll need to follow specific rules, such as the fast resolution process in Dragon Tiger or the complex dice management in Craps.

It’s worth noting that these games are less common in the online gambling world and tend to attract fewer tips. Additionally, you may experience long periods of inactivity, as these games are not as frequently played during off-peak hours.

Live Gameshows

Here, you need to act more as a TV gameshow host rather than a sophisticated croupier. You have more freedom to express yourself and speak informally with players, explaining how the game works at intermittent periods and keeping the energy high throughout the session.

Most live gameshows feature a giant prize wheel that must be spun at an optimal speed at the start of each round. You’re also expected to provide engaging commentary during the spin to enhance the viewer experience. There’s also the added twist of bonus rounds, which provide a more unique and immersive challenge.

Let’s take the Crazy Time gameshow, for example. During the ‘Pachinko’ bonus round, a wall with 16 drop zones and 16 prize multipliers at the bottom is activated. You need to climb to the back of the board and drop the puck into the wall from a randomly selected drop zone, all while maintaining a sense of excitement and suspense.

Training for online casino dealers

Becoming an online casino dealer is relatively easy, although it takes a positive attitude and basic knowledge of casino games. Major providers like Evolution and Pragmatic Play offer free, in-house training programs to prepare aspiring dealers for success.

These are open to anyone over the legal gambling age. They cover game rules, dealing techniques, and all the fundamentals of hosting live games. Training often lasts between four weeks and three months.

These training sessions incorporate cutting-edge tools such as computer simulators. Using this software, new recruits can practice independently in realistic gaming environments, knowing exactly when and how to handle various in-game scenarios.

Conclusion

In summary, the salary for an online casino dealer varies but rarely goes below $30,000. As expected, specializing in rooms for high rollers increases the odds for tips and extra earnings.

If you are considering a live dealer online casino job, master the fundamentals first and then work on your delivery to make sure players find you engaging. After all, standing out from a crowd could never hurt!

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