How Do I Become a Gaming Manager?
Would you enjoy being surrounded by people, the tinkle of laughter and the noise of coins spilling from slot machines? Become a gaming manager and put your management and interpersonal skills to work. Schools offering Hotel & Restaurant Management degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Would I Do As a Gaming Manager?
As a gaming manager, you would manage at least one area of a casino. Part of your job will be to develop and maintain relationships with customers, which may include explaining the rules of games, dealing with patrons discovered cheating, handling complaints and offering complementary or compensatory benefits to guests when appropriate. You will also manage employees by interviewing training and evaluating job performances and establishing a work schedule.
Sometimes, a gaming manager's specific title derives from the area of the casino floor that they manage. Because of this, job titles include poker room, slot, cage, pit or floor manager.
What Kind of Work Environment Might I Have?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most gaming professionals work in casinos (www.bls.gov). You might work day, evening or night shifts as well as on weekends and holidays.
Also according to the BLS, employment for gaming service employees is expected to grow 14% during the 2008-2018 decade. In 2010, the BLS reported that there were 6,200 gaming mangers in the nation, and that, on average, they earned $68,290 per year.
Will I Need a License?
In general, gaming managers must be licensed. To become licensed you must usually be at least 18 and pass a background check. Most licenses last two years. States that allow gambling usually have gaming commissions, control boards or divisions of gaming that handle licensing casino employees.
What Education Do I Need?
There is no specific degree necessary to work as a gaming manager. According to O*Net OnLine, many gaming managers have the equivalent of a high school diploma, and smaller numbers have an associate's or bachelor's degree (www.onetonline.org).
However, the BLS states that competition for gaming management positions is competitive, and that having a degree may increase employment opportunities. You can earn an associate's degree in gaming and casino management or casino management, and a bachelor's degree in casino and resort management or gaming management. These programs focus on hospitality, business management skills, accounting and gaming laws.
Alternatively, you can earn certificates in casino management. These programs are shorter than degree programs, and provide a basic introduction into casino operations and management. Online certificate programs are available, and consist of the same coursework as an in-person program.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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