What’s It Like Being A Live Online Game Dealer?
Over the last couple of decades many industries have thrived like never before. One of the most remarkable of these has been the online casino sector.
From very simple beginnings it has grown to become a multi-billion-dollar industry that thrives all round the world.
Part of its success has been due to a commitment to innovation, always bring players new experiences and new ways to play.
One of the most significant of these has been the arrival of the live online casino. Unlike the earliest online casino games that were all computer generated, the live casino is exactly what it sounds like.
Games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat are played for real with the action being relayed via online streaming. Clever tech converts the gameplay into digital information allowing people to participate online.
One of the key drivers behind this version of gaming has been to replicate the “real” casino experience as closely as possible. Inevitably, this has meant using real dealers to run the game and to react to players.
In turn, this has opened a whole new career opportunity – for live online game dealers. So how do you get to be one, and what’s the job actually like?
Becoming an online casino dealer
The good news is that there are many established online casinos and many more opening for business every year. You only need to look at a site like casinos.com to see just how much the industry is thriving.
So, there are plenty of openings for live dealers. To become one, you don’t have to have actual casino experience, although it obviously helps. But you will probably have to undergo some self-financed training in particular games with courses costing around $500 per game.
In some countries, such as the UK where online casinos are regulated by the Gambling Commission, you will need to obtain a license which can only be granted to people aged at least 21 and with no criminal record.
The online casinos themselves will also provide some training specific to the way that their own particular games and software work.
The skills needed.
The skills you need to be a successful live online dealer are very similar to the ones required by all casino dealers.
Obviously, you need to know the rules of each game inside out as well as the various bets that can be made.
Players are always joining and leaving a game, so you also need to be able to keep track of this, remembering to communicate and be very welcoming to newcomers. It’s also likely that, like a TV presenter, you will be receiving instructions from the game’s director so being able to think on your feet is equally vital.
Within the studio where the game is being played, there are also going to be many others going on in the background. So being able to focus and avoid being distracted is also a job requirement.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, an extrovert personality that immediately makes players feel at ease and keen to continue playing your game is a real must.
What you can earn
The entry salary for a live online dealer is a relatively low one – somewhere in the region of $20,000 a year. But as you gain more experience and learn to run more games this can rise to around $50-60,000.
Another very valuable source of income comes in the form of tips.
Players who have enjoyed big wins can sometimes be very generous with the dealer running the game and most online casinos offer the facility for them to be rewarded. So, it’s not unheard of for some of the most successful dealers to take home $100,000 a year.
Other benefits
Depending on the casino and how generous they are with their staff, there may well be other perks to the job. These can include health cover, pension contributions and even a clothing allowance.
Some will also help to fund training in different areas of casino management to help with career development.
Because most online casinos work 24/7 they also offer very flexible shifts. So, if you want to spend your days relaxing and evenings working this shouldn’t be a problem.
A couple of disadvantages
There are surprisingly few drawbacks. But the main one is if the shift patterns just mentioned don’t fit in with your life.
Plus, although you’re running a real game, you’re doing it in a studio. So, you might feel a little too distanced from the players, especially compared with a bricks and mortar casino.
That said, there are many more advantages than disadvantages. If you’re looking for a new direction in life and one that can be a great steppingstone for the future, maybe now’s the time to consider signing up.