JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 175

GAMBLING

Croupier

Games designer

A croupier is the face of the casino for
customers: they're the people who deal
the cards, set up the games, take the
bets, explain the rules when necessary,
and make the decisions that affect who
wins and loses - and how much.
What skills do I need? Mental
arithmetic is obviously crucial, but
the ability to stay calm and friendly
is just as important - customers are
unlikely to trust a flustered croupier.
You'll also need to concentrate for long
periods, sometimes late at night.
What qualifications do I need? Solid
GCSE scores - particularly in maths - are
a standard requirement, but otherwise
communication skills and focus are the
key attributes. You can train on the job
and colour-normal vision is a must.
How much can I earn? Trainee
croupiers start on around £14,000;
with experience you can earn £25,000
plus tips, and progress to pit boss or
manager. Cruise ships jobs are the
ultimate aim for croupiers: you'll find
that tips are better, there's free travel and
accommodation, and earnings are tax-free.

The gaming industry wouldn't exist
without, well, games, and there's a
constant desire for bigger, better ones
to draw more customers. As well as
designers, online game development
requires software engineers,
programmers, editors and more.
What skills do I need? You'll need to
combine a strong creative side with a
thorough knowledge of gambling.
What qualifications do I need? Most
roles will require a graphics-related
degree as standard. If you're working
on online games, some programming
knowledge would also be useful.
How much can I earn? You'll
start on £20,000 to £25,000, with
plenty of opportunity to progress.
Experienced designers and developers
can earn £55,000 or more.

WORDS CHRIS MILLER IMAGES GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK

Marketing relationship manager
In this industry, there are many
ambitious competitors and making
sure your company's message stands
out is all-important. Relationship
managers need to cultivate successful,
profitable partnerships with both
businesses and customers.
What skills do I need? A customer
relationship manager would find
experience in sales and customer
service useful, but understanding of
the customer and what encourages
them to gamble is paramount. On the
business relationship side, a manager
monitors purchases, budgeting and cost
factors. Football fans may choose this
route, since top-level football is closely
linked with the gambling industry.
What qualifications do I need?
A degree is standard, usually in
marketing, business or a related field.
How much can I earn? At least £30,000
a year, but this could be considerably
more depending on experience and
the size of your employer, and whether
you're responsible for VIP clients.

Find out more
* Gambling Commission
gamblingcommission.gov.uk
* National Careers Service
nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Bingo caller

Bingo is still hugely popular in Britain, which has
more than 500 licensed bingo halls from large chains
to holiday camps. The caller runs the show, picking
the balls and announcing the numbers, with a little
showmanship expected alongside the technicalities.
What skills do I need? Numeracy is important,
as are communication skills, while you'll need
confidence to command the room when calling
those numbers. Flexibility is required too - evening
and weekend shifts are common.
What qualifications do I need? There are no formal
entry requirements, although employers may prefer
GCSEs in maths and English. There's usually access
to on-the-job training, while in Scotland you can do
an SVQ level 2 in bingo operation.
How much can I earn? A trainee caller will earn
around £11,000, rising to £21,000 with experience.
There are other rewards too - you may find work on
a cruise ship, which means free accommodation and
a chance to travel.

J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 1 7 5



http://gamblingcommission.gov.uk http://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

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