Behind-the-scenes of a casino - dealer secret, pockets ban and myth about clocks
Handing over my ID to the security man behind the desk, I check into Grosvenor Casino feeling nervous about what my shift will bring. I've been invited to spend a day in the life as a croupier, but with very little knowledge of blackjack or roulette, I'm worried that I'll be more of a hindrance than a help.
It isn't my first time inside a casino (it felt somewhat a rite of passage to become a member at the age of 18), but it's safe to say I'm not a professional gambler. And I'm hopeful I'll be better at dealing cards than I am betting on them. As I'm greeted by general manager Adam Evans, he hands me a black waistcoat and yellow scarf to wear.
It was immediately a whole lot harder than it looked to shuffle with speed (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)Looking the part definitely helps me feel like I'm playing the part, but my outfit isn't technically up to scratch. I've been asked to dress in a white shirt and black trousers, though mine wouldn't really be accepted in a casino because I have pockets. "The uniform doesn't have any pockets so dealers can't be criticised of cheating," Adam explains to me - which is the last thing I want today.
We walk around the casino and Adam points out 20 slot machines and numerous blackjack and roulette tables. It feels somewhat peaceful and relaxed with only a handful of elderly people dotted across the room quietly playing by themselves.
The interiors are dark grey and lit up by televisions and games screens - and of course, dozens of CCTV cameras zooming in on each and every chip. "It wouldn't be a casino without cameras," Adam says, explaining how important it is to have evidence of every exchange.
Severed penis discovered lying on the ground outside petrol station car park
Though I had a lot of fun standing behind the table instead of in front of it (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)I'll be shadowing experienced gaming supervisor Eleonora Cillufo for my stint, who has more than five years' experience in the casino since training in her home country. "In Italy, it is very traditional to play cards and I used to play a lot with my grandad. I always wanted to win and now my mum jokes that I chose the right side of the table," she tells me.
To become a croupier, Eleanora spent three months on a strict training course in Sicily, where she learnt how to stretch her fingers to pick up more chips and shuffle with grace. Grosvenor's Training Academy only takes six weeks to complete and you don't need any specific qualifications, only a skill for times tables. Dealers are predominately taught blackjack and roulette, but there are dozens of variants and side bets that are offered in different locations - I'm hoping I won't have to learn them all.
I learnt three weeks of dealer training in just one shift (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
Eleanora told me it needs to be a 'fairy tale on the table' (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)As we hit the blackjack table, Eleanora starts teaching me the basic rules of shuffling and I already feel embarrassed at my poor attempt. "I remember the first time I worked in a casino, my hands couldn't stop shaking," Eleonora says - and I already know I'll be the same. Watching her hands work like magic, she weaves the cards in and out with such elegance and speed, telling me: "It needs to be a fairy tale on the table."
Eleanora explains that blackjack involves customers playing against the dealer, but that doesn't actually mean they want you to lose. If anything, she wants customers to cash out money because "it's more exciting when other people win", and they're more likely to get tips. "My job is to make sure the games are conducted in a fair and open way. If you ask for my advice, I'll always be honest," she says.
I discovered that croupiers actually want their customers to cash out (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)Eleanora begins by taking out six fresh decks of cards from a locked bag and spreads them out on the table, checking each one is in perfect condition. Then she stacks them into one tall tower and divides it into two, shuffling small sections of both towers together - each section three times and then the whole lot three times.
It takes her just one minute to get the game ready, so I set a timer for myself and attempt to give it my best shot. After three minutes has passed and I've barely made a dent, Eleanora laughs: "Your customers would have left and gone to the bar for a beer or ordered a steak." It takes me 18 minutes in total to shuffle and set up a game of blackjack, which is shameful. Eleanora 1 - Nia 0.
Eleanora could shuffle in 60 seconds but it took me 18 long minutes (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)Straight away, I realise that it's a whole lot harder than it looks. - but you can't ever show frustration because "you've always got to smile". Eleanora warns me: "Your fingers will ache and your hands will burn by the end of the shift, but after a few weeks you get used to it."
As we move onto roulette, Eleanora lists off her 35 and 17 times tables and I discover how important maths is in the role - my dated GCSE skills don't quite cut it. The speed of Eleanora's work is jaw-dropping and she can complete a full game of roulette from start to finish in just 60 seconds. I'm hugely impressed.
Even spinning the roulette ball required a certain knack to it (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)"When you can save time, you always save time," she tells me - as more games means more money for the casino. Though she adds that it's important to understand the players and match them with the right dealers.
It's my turn to take over the game and Eleanora helps to guide my body language, instructing me to always watch the table and not the ball. I spin the wheel like I was taught with a nifty flick of the finger and call out "place your last bets" as the light changes to red. I take a quick glance at the winning number, just as Eleanora sneaks an extra chip down - proving how quickly and easily players can cheat if you aren't watching.
Police release CCTV of potential new witness in search for missing Nicola Bulley
I was surprised when Eleanora offered me to join their team (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)It takes skill to catch them out - which I clearly don't have - but if I'd spotted her cheeky move, she would have been barred from the casino altogether. "You always need to show the camera that your hands are empty," Eleanora instructs, turning my palms upwards.
It's been four hours of training and my brain is starting to go a little fuzzy, but I'm reassured that's normal. The dealers usually have 20-minute breaks every hour and a half to ensure they don't tire out - and I can understand why, as I'm struggling to stand up straight.
As we practice a few training games, Eleanora tells me that she can "feel" how many chips are in her hand without counting them. When she first started in the casino, she could only pick up 18 chips but has learnt how to stretch her hands to now hold 20.
There wasn't any oxygen pumps but there was clocks on the walls (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)I ask Eleanora if she thinks I'd make it as a casino croupier, and her answer surprises me: "Yes, you could definitely do it. Everyone can and it's all about consistency. We are here and hiring." Before I end my shift, I check in with Adam about a few casino myths - and he reassures me that I haven't had oxygen pumped into my body. "There's no magnets or secret buttons. And all casinos have clocks, despite many people thinking they don't," he explains.
While the casino is a business after all, their motto is: "When the fun stops, stop", so customers are encouraged to only play what they can afford. Eleanora promises me a quick fake game of roulette before I leave - and when I win two rounds in a row, I wish I'd bet some real money. "It's beginner's luck," she says. Maybe I'm not so bad at dealing and playing after all...
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
