Casino pit manager

By MARK STORY

Name: Mustan Bagasrawala

Age: 35

Employer: Sky City, Auckland

Qualifications: Graduate in commerce, Mumbai, India

Q. Job description?

A. I progressed from casual dealer to pit manager as my gaming skills and competencies grew in the last five years.

As a pit manager I control and manage between 20 and 30 staff on up to 20 gaming tables, including roulette, blackjack, baccarat and poker.

I roster staff according to skills, resolve disputes, monitor major players and ensure service levels are maintained at all times.

Q. What sort of training did you get?

A. Four weeks' initial training, then ongoing courses on things such as customer service and identifying problem gamblers.

Q. Why did you choose this line of work?

A. It was the thrill of something new that prompted me to apply for a part-time dealer job when I arrived from India with family in 1997.

Until then, I'd never been inside a casino. To a migrant, this was a good job break in a new country.

Q. What are the essential qualities for success in this job?

A. No formal qualifications, but good maths and customer service skills and a liking for shift-work are essential - as is a positive attitude.

As you need a gaming licence before you can start work on a table, you must have a crime-free background.

Q. Best part of the job?

A. The fun in this job comes from meeting and helping to entertain people - and getting paid for it. This is my biggest motivation. Good dealers create a certain bond with players.

If you perform to required standards, there's good job security. There's the opportunity to work flexible shifts or co-ordinate your two days off a week with family activities. Good rostering means all dealers get an equal opportunity to work in non-smoking sections.

Q. Most challenging or difficult part of the job?

A. Working with people from such culturally diverse backgrounds requires a lot of flexibility, as does balancing shifts with family life.

Q. How does it rate in the pay stakes?

A. A full-time dealer who starts on a salary in the high $20,000 range can progress to around $50,000 at the pit manager level.

Tips are prohibited, but there are other incentives, such as cash bonuses, medical insurance, subsidised meals, parking and uniforms.

Q. Any quirky experiences on the job?

A. You have to be 20 or over to enter gaming areas. When I first started, I doubted the age of every second Asian - usually to find they were in the 25 to 30 age bracket.

Q. What career opportunities does this business offer?

A. The next step up is to manage an entire shift on a whole floor. Longer-term, I aspire to higher management positions specialising in table games, either here or at one of the other Sky City sites.

Q. What's a typical week for you?

A. I do the graveyard shift, 4am to noon, five days a week.

Q. What are the main attributes a dealer needs?

A. Good numeracy. Compatibility with shift work. Experience in hospitality isn't necessary as long as you have the right customer service attitude.