What Do You Need to Study to Work in the Gambling Industry?

The gambling industry is an exciting and vibrant one with many career opportunities. Most careers in casino management do not necessarily require higher education study. If you have aspirations to rise to management level, a management qualification will help. Casinos often have restaurants, clubs, and hotels with management positions that do require higher education studies. For many jobs in the gambling industry, on-the-job training is sufficient.

Careers in the casino industry

If you're interested in working in a casino, there are many different job opportunities open to you. Careers available in casinos include:

• Cashiers
• Slot attendants
• Surveillance operators
• Slot technicians
• Cage cashiers
• Security guards
• Hosts
• Floor supervisors
• Servers
• Casino dealers
• Bookkeepers
• Bartenders
• Chefs
• Customer support representatives
• Shifts managers
• Staff accountants
• Gaming managers
• Security managers
• Internal auditors

Today, there are also many jobs at online casinos. You could become a casino dealer for live dealer games in a state like Michigan where online gambling is legal. You would sit in a studio and deal cards, spin the wheel, etc. and the action would be live-streamed to players playing games like blackjack or poker from home.

Different requirements for different jobs

The requirements for each job in the gambling industry will be different. Some will require you to have a degree. If you want to work in a top financial position, you will usually need a four-year degree in finance. You will need this degree if you want to be a casino accountant, financial analyst, or internal auditor.

Most technical or authoritative jobs require a degree of some kind. With the tech revolution, there are inevitably jobs in IT and related fields in the gambling industry that require specific qualifications. Some jobs in this area include IT support, software development for a gaming platform, or cybersecurity analysis.

Degrees in business or marketing could be relevant in several different jobs. A degree in law and regulatory compliance could open jobs such as compliance officers or legal advisors. Many gaming managers have at least an associate degree. Some courses focus specifically on casino operations and gaming regulations.

Can you work in the industry without a degree?

The importance of education is undeniable for many of the top jobs in the gambling industry. But what if you don’t have a degree? Can you still work in the gambling industry? Yes, many jobs don’t require a college education.

Bartenders and servers 

From being a bartender to a casino server, there are many jobs you can do without having a degree. As a bartender, you will work in the restaurants, cocktail lounges, and bars in the casino. If you’re a casino server, you will also work in these locations and take customer orders for food and beverages.

Customer support reps

As a customer support representative, you will assist customers in all areas of the casino. You may introduce guests to casino amenities and activities. Providing guidance and answering questions will be part of your job. All of these roles require you to have good communication skills.

Slot attendants

A slot attendant will monitor slot machines for any errors or glitches. They distribute slot winnings and answer questions. They also perform surveillance to ensure guests comply with casino and legal regulations when using slot machines. 

Casino dealers

If you want to be a casino dealer you don’t need a college education although many dealers do have bachelor’s degrees. You typically only need a high school diploma or equivalent. As a casino dealer, you will manage game tables and oversee the activities of games like poker, blackjack, and roulette.

What all of these positions have in common is good communication skills. In these positions, you will be dealing with guests and need to offer them the best casino experience possible. You can start in entry-level positions and work your way up through gaining hands-on experience. Various certifications could be helpful in areas such as hospitality, security, or gaming management.