'Here I am 3 years later, loving it': Live Casino Pittsburgh hosts free dealer school
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When Frank McClain left his 30-year career in the floral industry because of burnout, he did not expect he would become a table games dealer at Live Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield.
But when the casino hosted its first dealer school in August 2020, McClain could not pass up the opportunity.
“Worst-case scenario was I lost a few bucks learning how to deal blackjack,” said McClain, 56, of North Huntingdon. “And now, here I am three years later, loving it.”
Dealing table games has been a refreshing change of pace from the stress of the floral industry, he said.
“People say, ‘Are you going to your job?’ I say, ‘No, I deal cards all day long,’ ” he said.
The casino offers its free dealer school every other month, said table games manager Brian Dwaileebe. Its next round of classes will begin Monday and run for six weeks.
Classes take place Monday through Friday, Dwaileebe said, and there are two time slots students can choose from: noon to 4 and 4 to 8 p.m.
Students first will learn the basics, such as cutting checks, dealing cards and handling chips, before moving on to the rules for blackjack and poker games. Managers will assess each student individually before they move on to the next topic, Dwaileebe said.
He estimated 95% of the students pass the final assessment.
“It doesn’t guarantee a job,” Dwaileebe said, “but I don’t think we’ve had anybody pass the class and not offer them a job.”
About 20 to 30 of the casino’s dealers started out in the dealer school, he said.
The casino employs between 125 and 135 dealers, Dwaileebe said. When all of the table games are open, 48 dealers are needed on the floor, but there are 50 to 60 dealers working during a busy shift.
“I think this dealer school is essential to us keeping our dealer positions filled … and having the amount of staff that we need to operate,” Dwaileebe said.
The average wage for a games dealer is $14 per hour and $29,120 per year, according to a U.S. Board of Labor Statistics report from May 2022. The high end salary is nearly $30 an hour and about $61,000 per year. A majority of a games dealer’s earnings comes from tips, Dwaileebe said.
He previously served as an instructor for the school, learning the ropes himself 11 years ago.
“I didn’t go to college,” Dwaileebe said. “I got into the casino industry, and I never really looked back — and it’s been a very successful thing for myself.”
For those considering a career in games dealing, the key is to keep an open mind during the training process, McClain said.
“Don’t expect to look at a dealer who’s been doing this for a number of years and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to be as fast as them. I’m going to be as good as them,’ ” he said. “It’s a process.”
Craps is the most difficult game to learn, McClain said. After learning the rules, it takes about six months to a year to feel comfortable dealing it.
Now, craps is McClain’s favorite game to deal.
“This was my first casino job, and I plan on it being my last one,” McClain said. “I plan on being here for a while.”
Quincey Reese is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Quincey by email at qreese@triblive.com or via Twitter .
