Editing Croupier

{{Short description|Someone appointed at a gambling table to assist in the conduct of the game}}
{{For|the 1998 film starring Clive Owen|Croupier (film)}}
{{Globalize|1=article|2=United States|date=February 2024}}
[[File:Poker Dealer.jpg|alt=|thumb|Croupier in [[Las Vegas]] (2011)]]
A '''croupier''' or '''dealer''' is someone appointed at a [[gambling]] table to assist in the conduct of the game, especially in the distribution of bets and payouts. Croupiers are typically employed by [[casino]]s.

==Origin of the word==
Originally a "croupier" meant one who stood behind a gambler, with extra reserves of cash to back him up during a gambling session. The word derived from ''croupe'' (the [[rump (animal)|rump]] of a horse) and was by way of analogy to one who rode behind on horseback. It later came to refer to one who was employed to collect the money from a gaming-table.<ref>[[Oxford English Dictionary]], ''Croupier''</ref>

Originally a "dealer" meant one who was responsible for distributing cards or the player in the dealer position, regardless of whether or not that player was responsible for distributing the cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.pokerzone.com/dealer|title=Definition of Dealer - PokerZone|website=dictionary.pokerzone.com|access-date=2017-11-27|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032219/http://dictionary.pokerzone.com/dealer|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Training ==
[[File:Gambling games 4.jpg|thumb|left|A blackjack dealer at [[Harrah's Las Vegas]] (2011)]]
Training methods to become a casino croupier vary from country to country. In North America, [[blackjack]] is almost always the game that dealers learn first, as it is simple and popular, and when the dealer makes errors, they tend not to cost the casino much money. In Europe, croupiers tend to learn [[roulette]] first. Complex, busy games such as [[craps]], with complicated payout systems, etc., are usually reserved for the most competent and/or ambitious dealers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jobboomcc.canoe.ca/News/2005/10/19/1269228-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711111110/http://jobboomcc.canoe.ca/News/2005/10/19/1269228-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 11, 2012|title=Career advice - Job tips for workers and job seekers - Jobboom -|website=jobboomcc.canoe.ca}}</ref>
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== Licensing ==
[[United States|American]], [[Australia]]n, [[Canada|Canadian]] and [[United Kingdom|British]] croupiers are required to apply for a gambling license. This license includes police background checks and credit rating checks, to help determine if they are eligible to commence employment. Croupiers are not permitted to deal at a casino until being issued this license.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Criminal record checks |url=https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/page/criminal-record-checks-PFL |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Gambling Commission |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Tipping ==
As is common with customer service staff in the United States, croupiers there depend on tips to make their wage worthwhile. While a croupier should theoretically have no personal interest in the outcome of the game, a successful player customarily tips the croupier, especially in American casinos. Tips are often pooled and divided amongst all the staff. Fraternising with customers is frowned upon (due to conflict of interest), and most casinos prevent their gambling staff from being seen smoking or even being seen in uniform outside the casino. Some gambling strategies include suggestions to tip the casino dealer in order to create a good atmosphere and improve the dealer's mood. According to these strategies, tipping might even make the dealer shuffle the cards less frequently and thereby allow easier tracking of particular cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://casinoobserver.com/casino-news-item-article-ground-casino-rules.htm|title=Land Casino rules|publisher=casinoobserver.com|access-date=2010-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223454/http://casinoobserver.com/casino-news-item-article-ground-casino-rules.htm|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> Australian casinos forbid dealers from taking tips.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.star.com.au|title=Casino|access-date=2011-07-25}}</ref>

==Secondhand smoke exposure==
Because casinos tend to allow smoking on the gambling floor, American croupiers are exposed to [[secondhand smoke]]. A [[Health Hazard Evaluation Program|health hazard evaluation]] of several [[Las Vegas Strip|Las Vegas]] casinos showed that nonsmoker croupiers suffered from more respiratory ailments than their administrative counterparts at the casinos, and had [[cotinine]] and [[NNAL]] (both components of secondhand smoke) in their urine samples.<ref>West, Christine. [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/nsb061609_casino.html Secondhand Smoke and Casino Dealers]. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. June 16, 2009.</ref> [[United Kingdom|Britain]] banned smoking in all public places, including casinos, in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4375478.stm|title=Smoke ban bill details released|date=27 October 2005|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Poker dealer]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commonscatinline}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Personal care and service occupations]]
[[Category:Gambling terminology]]