Standing in the center of a crowded casino, effortlessly shuffling cards and calculating complex payouts, is a highly skilled profession.

If you have excellent manual dexterity and can handle high-pressure social situations, it can be an incredibly lucrative career path.

Attending Casino Dealing School

You cannot simply walk into a casino and ask for a job dealing blackjack; you must be professionally trained first.

Students spend hundreds of hours practicing chip handling, mastering the 'riffle' shuffle, and memorizing payout tables.

• Dealing school teaches you how to 'clear your hands' (showing the camera they are empty) to prevent accusations of theft
• The math required is not complex algebra, but rather the ability to add numbers to 21 or multiply by 35 instantly in your head
• You must learn how to seamlessly deal the game while simultaneously holding a conversation to entertain the players

Working Conditions and Earning Potential

Once hired, new dealers usually start on the 'graveyard shift' (2 AM to 10 AM) or are placed in the lowest-limit pit areas.

While the base salary is often just minimum wage, a good dealer at a busy, high-end casino can make $70,000 to $100,000 a year in tips.

If you can master the cards and manage the crowds, the casino floor can become a highly profitable and exciting office.