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PIT MANAGER
Casino Casino Pit Managers Position Description
There is a lot of action on the casino gaming floor. The gaming area is usually separated into pits or groups of tables. The person in charge of overseeing the pit is called the Pit Manager.
A pit may consist of tables of one specific game such as craps or blackjack, or may have tables of different types of games grouped together. The Pit Manager must have an understanding of the games he or she is overseeing.
The Pit Manager works under the direction of the shift manager. The individual has a variety of responsibilities. First and foremost, the Pit Manager is expected to supervise the games in the pit and be sure they run smoothly. Games must be run properly and according to the policies of the casino. The Pit Manager must assure that regulations and procedures of the games are followed.
Casino Pit Managers are in charge of pit personnel. Individuals are responsible for the conduct of employees in their pit. Casino Pit Managers are expected to watch dealers to make sure they are dealing properly and not making mistakes. Casino Pit Managers watch for any cheating on the part of dealers or other employees in the pit. Casino Pit Managers are additionally responsible for scheduling the breaks for all pit personnel.
The Pit Manager must be alert to players attempting to cheat the casino in any way. The individual watches players who seem more skilled than others, such as those who count blackjack cards.
Casino Pit Managers deal with a certain amount of paperwork in the pit. This includes making out and authorizing cash-outs, fill, or credit slips. Individuals are also responsible for watching the play of high rollers and may award comps to players. Other duties of the Pit Manager include:
- Settling disputes between players and casino employees
- Handling customer problems and complaints
- Calming down agitated customers
- Greeting players
- Opening and closing gaming tables
Salaries
Casino Pit Managers are usually paid a weekly salary instead of an hourly wage. This can range between $35,000 and $75,000 or more annually. Factors affecting earning include the geographic location, size, and prestige of the casino as well as the responsibilities and experience of the individual. Those with more experience working in large facilities in the gambling capitals may earn more than their counterparts in other areas.
Employment Prospects
Employment prospects are good for Casino Pit Managers. Opportunities are available for qualified Casino Pit Managers throughout the country or the world in a variety of settings. The greatest number of opportunities exist in areas where there are a large number of casinos. Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Detroit offer the greatest number of job possibilities. Other employment settings may include casino hotels in other areas of Nevada, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and California.
Other regions hosting Indian gaming and landbased or riverboat gaming facilities or cruise ships offer additional opportunities. New casinos and casino hotels are constantly under construction. More casinos and casino hotels are also opening every year as areas legalize gambling.
Advancement Prospects
Casino Pit Managers can advance in two ways. After obtaining experience, some individuals locate similar positions in larger or more prestigious casinos, resulting in increased earnings. The other option for career advancement for Casino Pit Managers is becoming a shift manager.
Education and Training
Casino Pit Managers in casinos start out as dealers. They generally have gone through dealer training at gaming schools, academies, or institutes. Others have had similar training in community colleges, vocational technical schools, or casinos themselves. Some individuals have also taken casino-related training programs in-house to help prepare them for supervisory positions.
Special Requirements
Casino Pit Managers, like all others working in the gaming area, must be licensed by the state regulatory gaming agency in the specific state in which they work. They may also be required to meet additional licensing requirements. Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits Experience in the gaming industry is necessary to become a Pit Manager. Individuals usually start out as dealers and move up to positions as boxpersons, floorpersons, or pit supervisors prior to becoming Casino Pit Managers.
Casino Pit Managers must be extremely alert so that they can watch everything that is going on in their pit. Supervisory and administrative skills are also necessary. A complete knowledge of the rules and procedures of the games in their pit is essential. Familiarity with the rules of the casino is also mandatory.
Unions and Associations
Individuals interested in learning more about careers in this area can contact gaming institutes, academies, and schools, as well as casino human resources departments. They may also belong to local gaming associations.
Tips for Entry
1. The more knowledgeable you are about a variety of games, and the more games you have experience with, the more marketable you will be.
2. Opportunities may be easier to obtain for individuals with less experience in casinos outside of the major gambling capitals of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
3. Jobs are often advertised in the classified sections of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under classifications such as "Casinos," "Casino Jobs," "Casino Opportunities," "Casino Executive," "Pit Manager," or "Gaming."
4. Visit the human resources department of casinos to inquire about job openings.
5. Look for new casinos under construction. Apply early.
6. Positions may be advertised on the Internet. Look under key words such as "Casinos," "Casino Jobs," "Gaming," or "Pit Manager." Many casino and casino hotel home pages also have employment opportunity sections.
PIT CLERK
Position Description
The gaming area is usually separated into pits or groups of tables. There are a number of different employees in the pit. These include dealers, pit bosses, supervisors, floorpeople, and Pit Clerks. The main function of the Pit Clerk is to sit in front of a computer terminal and input relevant data.
Pit Clerks handle a number of duties. They are responsible for recording rim-credit transactions. This type of credit is called rim because it is issued to players at the rim of a gaming table. Rim credit allows players to begin gambling without going to the cage to write a check to the casino. When rim credit is issued by a floorperson or pit boss, they notify the Pit Clerk to record the information in the pit terminal computer.
The casino must maintain records on the credit standings of individual casino customers. As new information becomes available, when customers request credit, the Pit Clerk is responsible for updating this data in the pit computer.
The individual often communicates with the cage cashier to get this and other information. Pit Clerks are expected to file all IOUs issued to players by casino executives. When players pay off IOUs at the cage, Pit Clerks are informed so they can input the new data into the terminal. In this way the documentation will balance at the end of the shift. Other duties of the Pit Clerk may include:
- Tracking player ratings
- Reporting and keeping track of comps awarded by floorpersons or pit bosses
- Answering pit telephones
- Handling additional clerical duties
Salaries
Pit Clerks earn an hourly wage ranging from approximately $7.00 to $10.00 or more, or roughly $15,000 to $23,000 or more for full-time clerks. Factors affecting earnings include the geographic location, size, and prestige of the casino as well as the experience of the individual.
Employment Prospects
Employment prospects are good for Pit Clerks. Opportunities are readily available in casinos throughout the country or the world. As casinos are often open 24 hours a day, individuals may work any shift. They may also be expected to work weekends or holidays.
While individuals may find employment in any casino in the world. the greatest number of opportunities exist in areas where there are a large number of casinos. Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Black Hawk, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Detroit offer the greatest number of job possibilities. Other employment settings may include casino hotels in other areas of Nevada, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and California.
Other regions hosting Indian gaming and landbased or riverboat gaming facilities or cruise ships offer additional opportunities. New casinos and casino hotels are constantly under construction. More casinos and casino hotels are also opening every year as areas legalize gambling.
Advancement Prospects
In many instances, Pit Clerks positions are entry-level jobs, a way to get a foot in the door of the casino. Individuals may move up to positions working in the cage of the casino handling money and chips. Pit Clerks may also be promoted to pit managers.
Education and Training
Casinos prefer that Pit Clerks have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Many casinos will help individuals who do not have either the diploma or the equivalent obtain a GED. There is no formal training for Pit Clerks. However, casinos usually offer on-the-job training for this position.
Special Requirements
Pit Clerks, like all others in the gaming industry, must be licensed by the state regulatory gaming agency in the specific state in which they work.
Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits
As noted previously, this is often an entry-level job, no experience is needed. Pit Clerks must have computer and data entry skills. A number of different computer software programs are used, so it is not necessary to be familiar with all software.
Unions and Associations
While there may be a limited number of casinos throughout the country where this is a unionized position, generally Pit Clerks are not represented by unions. Individuals interested in learning more about careers in this area can contact casino human resources departments. Pit Clerks may be members of local gaming associations.
Tips for Entry
1. Jobs are often advertised in the classified sections of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under classifications such as "Casinos," "Casino Jobs," "Casino/Gaming Opportunities," or "Pit Clerk."
2. Visit the human resources department of casinos to inquire about job openings.
3. Most casinos have job hotlines. These are frequently updated messages listing job availabilities. You can call each casino directly to obtain its job hotline phone number.
4. Look for new casinos under construction. Apply early.
5. Positions may be advertised on the Internet. Look under key words such as "Casinos," "Casino Jobs," "Gaming," or "Pit Clerks." Many casino and casino hotel home pages also have employment opportunity sections.