Best Careers: Gaming Manager

The rundown:

Casinos run the gamut from sizzling to slow, but every gaming operation needs smart managers to oversee its daily business, no matter the in-house style. Casino managers help with everything from customer service to security. You'll circulate among customers, make sure players understand the rules, and handle interactions with vendors. As you gain more responsibility, you'll become more involved in operations and promotions. There's often plenty of paperwork and no shortage of tasks you might be asked to oversee—anything from entertainment to public relations.

[See a list of The 50 Best Careers.]

The outlook:

Employment of both gaming supervisors and gaming managers—who usually have more responsibility and earn more money—is expected to jump 12 percent between 2008 and 2018, slightly more than average for all occupations, according to the Labor Department. There were only about 6,200 gaming manager positions across the country in 2008, but far more gaming supervisor positions, about 40,900. Although Las Vegas has struggled because of the weak economy, more and more states are looking to gaming to boost their ailing budgets.

Money:

Median earnings for gaming supervisors were nearly $48,000 in 2009, while gaming managers—who tackle more of the human resources, hiring, and training responsibilities—had median earnings of $67,380. The highest-paid managers make upwards of $115,000, while the lowest-paid supervisors make about $30,000.

Upward mobility:

With experience in gaming and skill and interest in advancing, you could move into a gaming supervisory role, then into management. Over time, you might move into better-paying roles at larger casinos.

Activity level:

Variable. Although you may be responsible for some office duties, particularly work schedules or hiring, you'll be on your feet much of the time, circulating and overseeing the casino's operations.

[See a list of the best creative and service careers.]

Stress level:

Sometimes high. Casino work tends to be pretty colorful, and you may face tough hours (nights and weekends) and have to deal with unhappy (i.e., losing) customers.

Education and preparation:

There is no strict educational requirement, although many of those in supervisory or managerial roles have experience as gaming dealers and attended a vocational or dealer school, where they learned game rules, procedures, and regulations. If you aspire to an executive role, a college degree may be necessary. Note that if you work in gaming, you'll need a license from the state board or commission that oversees casinos.

[Find online degree programs in creative services.]

Real advice from real people about landing a job as a casino manager:

"In today's world, many of the tables and slots have a lot of software and technology associated with graphics, player tracking systems, and other mechanisms. So a good manager needs higher education—because you'll be interacting a lot with the executive team—and also needs to be very computer-savvy. It's very similar to being a manager in any other corporation, except you also need to understand the nuances and cheating techniques that players and even employees use. It's not so much who you know anymore. You need to have all of these skills." —Beth Deighan, president of Casino Careers, a staffing firm for the hospitality industry

Suggested job searches: Gaming Manager jobs | Casino Manager jobs | Hotel Manager jobs | Restaurant Manager jobs