Their eyes are sometimes tired from the sleepless nights spent working, but their smiles are usually frank and spontaneous: the life of a croupier is not the most relaxing, but it is often very satisfying. At the Club Pierre Charron, we had the opportunity to talk to some of them, between two hands, between two breaks, between two jackpots. They testify with honesty and humanity about this job like no other.
"The suit may not make the man, but the suit makes the dealer," jokes Evan, who has been working at the Club Pierre Charron for nearly two years. His comment says a lot about this little-known profession: behind the traditional uniform, a black and white three-piece suit and a bow tie around the neck, hides a real pride in embodying a high-end service profession. "To be at the service of the customer and the club's atmosphere at the same time", summarizes one of his colleagues. The dealer is the recipient of the smooth running of a gaming room, "despite the pressures inherent in any gambling operation," as Laurentiu, a newcomer to the Club, but an experienced dealer for more than 15 years, points out.
(Evan)
Singular life paths
Like many of his colleagues, Laurentiu arrived at his position as a dealer by building his own voice. Born in Romania, he started out in a local casino after high school, before following some of his compatriots on an adventure to the Es Saadi casino in Marrakech. There he discovered a completely different world, more glamorous, with consistent games. "What I like, here in Paris, is to host the big tables. The higher the stakes, the more proud I am of my job," he says.
(Laurentiu)
Mathilde, of Italian origin, has also been a member of the Club Pierre Charron for over a year. Trained in Italy in a dealer school, she left the family business to try the great adventure of this profession: "I thought of becoming a dealer because a friend was doing this job and she loved it".
(Mathilde)
Emilie, 33 years old, had a more traditional career path: restaurants and star hotels, where she made her debut. "It was my dream to work in luxury, and then I had the opportunity to work in a casino of a large group that was opening in my region, and I liked it immediately. Since then, I wouldn't do any other job in the world!"
(Emilie)
For Sheryl, it was the need to find a job very quickly, in order to support herself and her family: "I only knew about casinos from the movies, it was an unknown universe for me!"
(Sheryl)
As for Charles, with a model's appearance and a ravaging smile, he went through Technical studies, a Stunt School and then Internet development before turning to a dealer's training "for love of cards and beautiful gestures". Thus, all roads lead to the green carpet... especially that of Ilan for whom the road was all traced with a father and a brother "also in the business".
(Charles)
A special profession on the social scene
They all agree on one thing: becoming a dealer is like entering "a big family" with its own rules and way of life, a bit different from the usual work/life/sleep routine of their surroundings. "The most difficult, but also the most pleasant, is to live at night," say Émilie, Evan and Mathilde. "We live in reverse of the traffic jams and the lines in the supermarkets," adds one of their colleagues. Even if in a gaming club like Club Pierre Charron, the hours are between day and night (employees work from 1 p.m. to 6 a.m.), some of them don't often see the light of day. "But the best part," Charles and Ilan explain, "is that we work three days at full speed and then have three days off for a real work/life balance. This particular rhythm "creates a unique bond between us in the end," adds a dealer. "We're all in our own world, and even with employees from other clubs and casinos, we understand each other instantly: we have the same reflexes, the same mannerisms, the same lifestyles."
(Ilan)
A real career path and enviable wages
If the remuneration at the lowest level of qualification is not considered particularly attractive in the casinos in the countryside, the Parisian clubs make a real difference, thanks to the higher stakes bet each day by the clientele. But it is above all the potential for progression that appeals to all these young people from different backgrounds.
For Ilan, Charles, Mathilde, Laurentiu, Evan, Sheryl and Émilie, "doing this job means knowing that the evolution can be fast. At the dealer level alone (4 at Club Pierre Charron), in less than a year, you can move up to the next level, and the increase in pay is felt immediately".
And even though dealers represent the majority of a club's workforce, the games don't stop with the dealer's job: table manager, game manager, board member, game director... all opportunities to grow. But there's more to a gaming club than just the games! Security, entrance control, cashiering or catering... so many jobs that offer professional opportunities. For example, Charles, who had an accident outside of work and broke his arm, was able to work at the Club's reception desk while he recovered his health. An experience that allowed him to broaden his horizons and his vision of the profession: "Working in different positions gives you a better understanding of reception and customer service, and allows you to discover all the people who contribute to making the game experience enjoyable, each in their own position".
Emilie went the other way around, starting in the restaurant business and working her way up to the gaming tables, and she never plans to leave. As for the tables and the games, they are all versatile: they master all the games, from Poker21 (equivalent to Blackjack), to Ultimate Poker, including Punto Banco and the cash-game poker tables in Texas Hold'Em and Omaha. In the end, all the games offered around the world are dealt in Paris (except roulette, which everyone hopes for): so many opportunities for mobility that make the dealer's job a truly international one.
When it comes to games, each one has his or her own preference, but they all agree that the variations in rules, game modes and stakes make it possible to never get bored and to progress daily. In a few years, they all see themselves evolving in this universe, hoping to reach positions of responsibility, even better paid. As Émilie summarizes with a big laugh: "I don't see myself doing anything else or going anywhere else. One day, I will take the place of the big boss (Gregory Benac, NDLR – see his interview in Poker52 of march 2022), I'm sure of it ! »
Charles's storytime :
« One day, an American client who had lost at poker tipped me the amount he had left... which was still €600! The winning player, on the other hand, only left me €10, even though he had just pocketed a €35,000 pot. This illustrates the diversity of human relationships. »
Point of you of the game manager (Chef de Partie) :
- What's the difference between being a dealer in a Parisian Club or in a Casino ?
In Paris, card games are the most popular, and there are many players, so there are more tables, with a wide variety of games. In these conditions, a dealer improves much faster, in all aspects: know-how and interpersonal skills.
- Club Pierre Charron is known for its high standards: what more does it take for the dealer to work ?
Technical know-how is required by all establishments, but here we particularly value the ability to learn and the professionalism that gradually leads to proficiency.
The real difference is in the "soft skills" and human management, which are essential and worked on daily by all the professions, not just the games and the dealers.
- How is the framework characterized ?
Dealers are evaluated on several criteria every six months by several managers. A lot of time is spent on rules, gestures and the management of the most common mistakes. This promotes progress and contributes to the spirit of excellence required at all levels of the games.
