Live! Casino offers free dealer school during pandemic
REPORTER CHANDI CHAPMAN GIVES US A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE COURSE. >> THIS FREE DEALER SCHOOL AND LIVE CASINO TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO COUNT CHIPS WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AND HOW TO DEAL CARDS LIKE A PROFESSIONAL SO THEY CAN LAND A JOB. >> WITH THE FLIP OF A CARD AND THE MUSCLE MEMORY OF COUNTING CHIPS, >> ONCE YOU GET ONE PILE, PUSH IT INTO IT. >> PEOPLE CAN START NEW CAREERS AT WESTMORELAND COUNTY. AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE CASINO IS OFFERING FREE DEALER CLASSES. >> THAT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A TRADE AND AN EXCITING TRADE. >> CHRIS CASPER IS ONE OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ENROLLED IN THE 6 WEEK COURSE. HE SAYS JOBS ARE SLIM, SO THE FREE TRAINING IS PERFECT TIMING. >> ONCE YOU ARE A DEALER, YOU CAN BE A DEALER ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. >> A NEW DAY, THINGS. THERE IS MUSIC GOING ON, A LOT OF ATMOSPHERE. >> JOHN EDEN SHOULD KNOW. HE WAS A DEALER FOR YEARS, BEFORE WORKING HIS WAY UP TO MANAGEMENT. A GOAL FOR MANY WHO ATTEND THE SCHOOL. >> SHOW ME EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD TEACH SOMEBODY HERE AT THE STABLE. >> WE WOULD START IN WITH THE BASIC BY. WE TAKE OUT THE CHIPS AND WE RUN THEM DOWN FOR A $100 BUY-IN. SO WE TEACH THEM HOW TO DRAW CHIPS LIKE THAT AND SIZE INTO IT . >> UNDERSTANDING WHAT DIFFERENT COLORS ON THE CHIPS MEAN IS IMPORTANT ALONG WITH KNOWING HOW MANY ARE IN A STACK. >> 2000 FOR A STACK. THE PURPLE IS 500 SO IT IS 10,000 FOR. >> -- THE PURPLE IS $500 SO IT 10,000 FOR THE STACK. >> THE COURSE LET’S YOU MASTER CARNIVAL GAMES AND KNOW THE RULES OF BLACKJACK. BUT IF A PERSON IS HIRED, THEY ARE TRAINED TO MOVE ON TO CRAPS AND ROULETTE, CASINO WORKERS SAY BECOMING A DEALER IS MORE THAN MASTERING FANCY FINGER WORK. EDEN SAYS A LOT OF MATH IS INVOLVED AND DEALERS HAVE TO BE PATIENT WITH REPETITIVE EXERCISES. >> THEY WILL PRACTICE CUTTING THE CHECKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS AS A DEALER IS YOUR HAND AND HOW YOU CUT THE CHIPS >> PLUS, PERSONALITY IS KEY FOR FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PLAYERS. >> YOU WILL HAVE YOUR REGULATORS. -- REGULARS. THEY ARE GETTING A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE. >> BRIAN URAN IS THE VP OF MARKETING AT LIVE CASINO AND SAYS SINCE GOVERNOR TOM WOLF LOOSENED COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN THE STATE, MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE CASINO, AND THERE’S A DEMAND FOR DEALERS WHO CAN MAKE CLOSE TO $25 AN HOUR, JUST IN TIPS. >> NOW WE ARE ABLE TO INVITE MORE GUESTS INTO THE PROPERTY AND AS A RESULT, WE NEED MORE HELP. WE ARE HIRING FOR ALL POSITIONS AND THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS TO TEACH FOR FREE. >> JUST BECAUSE YOU COMPLETED THE COURSE DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL LAND THE
People can start new careers at Live! Casino in Westmoreland County. In the middle of a pandemic, the casino is offering free dealer classes.Chris Casper is one of many people, who enrolled in the six-week course. He said jobs are slim, so the free training is perfect timing."Not only an opportunity to work, but an opportunity to learn a trade and an exciting trade," Casper said.Casper said, "Once you are a dealer, you can be a dealer anywhere in the world."John Eden was a dealer for years, before working his way up to management.He said, "Every day is a new day, you see new things. It's exciting. There's music going on. A lot of atmosphere going back and forth."The course allows a person to master carnival games and know the rules of Blackjack.If someone is hired, they are trained to move on to Craps and Roulette.Casino workers said becoming a dealer is more than mastering fancy finger work. Eden said a lot of math is involved and dealers have to be patient with repetitive exercises, plus personality is key for form relationships with the players.Brian Uran is the VP of marketing at Live! Casino and said since Gov. Tom Wolf loosened COVID-19 restrictions in the state, more people are coming to the casino and there's a demand for dealers, who can make close to $25/hr, just in tips.He said, "Now we are able to invite more guests into the property and as a result, we need more help, we are hiring for all positions including dealers and the best way to do it is to teach them for free."After completing the course, a person can apply for a position.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. —People can start new careers at Live! Casino in Westmoreland County. In the middle of a pandemic, the casino is offering free dealer classes.
Chris Casper is one of many people, who enrolled in the six-week course. He said jobs are slim, so the free training is perfect timing.
"Not only an opportunity to work, but an opportunity to learn a trade and an exciting trade," Casper said.
Casper said, "Once you are a dealer, you can be a dealer anywhere in the world."
John Eden was a dealer for years, before working his way up to management.
He said, "Every day is a new day, you see new things. It's exciting. There's music going on. A lot of atmosphere going back and forth."
The course allows a person to master carnival games and know the rules of Blackjack.
If someone is hired, they are trained to move on to Craps and Roulette.
Casino workers said becoming a dealer is more than mastering fancy finger work. Eden said a lot of math is involved and dealers have to be patient with repetitive exercises, plus personality is key for form relationships with the players.
Brian Uran is the VP of marketing at Live! Casino and said since Gov. Tom Wolf loosened COVID-19 restrictions in the state, more people are coming to the casino and there's a demand for dealers, who can make close to $25/hr, just in tips.
He said, "Now we are able to invite more guests into the property and as a result, we need more help, we are hiring for all positions including dealers and the best way to do it is to teach them for free."
After completing the course, a person can apply for a position.