December 26 Marks International Croupier’s Day

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Xenia Luch

28 November 2024

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casino dealer

Every year on December 26, the casino industry celebrates International Croupier’s Day, an unofficial honoring of the professionals who bring games of chance to life. 

Known as casino dealers in some contexts, croupiers are the indispensable backbone to both land-based and live casinos.

They oversee games, manage chips, handle bets, and ensure players follow the rules, all while creating an engaging atmosphere at the table.

Croupiers are responsible for everything that keeps a casino game in motion:

  • Running games like roulette, blackjack, poker, and baccarat.
  • Handling chips and payouts.
  • Interacting with players, maintaining a friendly yet professional atmosphere.
  • Detecting fraud, working with security teams to prevent illegal activities.

While croupiers are often portrayed as women, men dominate the field globally. In the US, 57.4% of casino dealers were men in 2021, according to Zippia, with the balance relatively steady over the years.

Are There Competitions for Croupiers?

Yes, and they’re serious business. For example, last European Dealer Championship (ECA), one of the industry’s top events, took place in June, 2024, showcasing the best talent across Europe in categories such as:

  • Best Chip Cutting
  • Best Mathematician
  • Best Card Handling
  • Best Pushing Stacks
Noemie Serra of Monte-Carlo Casino - European Dealer Championship 2024
Noemie Serra of Monte-Carlo Casino won European Dealer Championship 2024

Interesting Records and Scandals

  • Rumor has it that Australian tycoon Kerry Packer once tipped casino’s Blackjack dealers $1 million after a $20 million win at MGM Grand, Vegas.
  • Croupiers also make headlines with extraordinary achievements. Italian Rocco Mercurio set a Guinness World Record by balancing 255 poker chips on one finger, while Dutch casino dealers broke records in 2024 for roulette spinning (71 hours, Martin Hummel) and blackjack shuffling (72 hours, Hielke Klingeler).
  • But the profession also has its dark side. Even though croupiers wear uniforms with fake pockets to deter theft, scandals still occur. In one infamous case in 2023, a 22-year-old Italian Portomaso Casino dealer Luigi Giuseppe Comella helped accomplices illegally win €8050 in three days at a baccarat table. Amazingly, he avoided jail by pleading guilty.