On a recent day, men and women sat around casino tables inside an office park on State Farm Drive learning how to run blackjack, baccarat and poker games at a special “dealer school” organized by Graton Rancheria Resort & Casino.
Among the group was Tony Clem, a 54-year-old Rohnert Park resident, wearing a mustache and an easy smile. Clem spent 35 years working as a printing press operator in San Francisco and said he was excited to put an end to the long commute.
“It seemed like a good alternative,” he said. Clem is a fan of blackjack and other games, but said that being a dealer was a lot more difficult. “You have to be accurate with your pay outs and your placement has to be correct."
At the end of the 12-week training program, graduates audition before their instructor, demonstrating that they can maintain appropriate game pace, count the cards and chips correctly, be calm under pressure, something the pros refer to as the “choreography of dealing.”
Trainees are not guaranteed a job, but are given preference when it comes to hiring, said Lori Nelson, a spokeswoman for Station Casinos. At the end, the casino will hire an estimated 700 dealers when it opens this fall, paying a salary of between $35,000 to $40,000, plus tips. About 280 people are currently enrolled in the school.
Another student is Aline Fromme, a 49-year-old massage therapist from Petaluma who, like Clem, is seeking a career change.
“I’m looking for work I can do in the years ahead that’s less physically demanding,” she said. “There are many people in my group who are transitioning from more labor-intensive work.”
Fromme was initially apprehensive about “the emotional climate” of a casino, adding that she meant the negative stereotypes associated with a casino, but has been pleasantly surprised.
“It’s been an awesome experience,” she said. “The level of professionalism has blown me away.”
At another table, 23-year-old Sebastopol resident James Bauer said he was drawn to the school by his love of table games.
“Day-to-day life can be boring, but with games, it adds some excitement, said Bauer. “It’s an escape from reality.”
To find out more about the school visit www.GratonResortCasino.com and click on Careers.
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