rien ne va plus: a croupier’s story

Rien Ne Va Plus:

A Croupier’s Story

by Loulou Von Spiel

Most of us are aware of Casinos, if only from James Bond films or stories set in Las Vegas. But what about those men and women in whose expert hands lie the fate of even the most hardened gambler?

Croupiers, also known as “Dealers” are fascinating to watch. But their skills are hard won. With nocturnal hours and strict rules, this profession is not for everyone… and most fall into it by chance.

Isabelle Nobouta is such an example, when at the age of 21, while working in the tourism industry in Marrakech, she chanced upon Croupier-dom. A timely interview, five weeks of intense training, and she was ready for a new life which transported her to exotic lands… from Marrakech to Ankara, Paris, the French Riviera, a cruise ship in The Bahamas, and finally London. ---Isabelle worked in Casinos for 16 years, and travelled the world safely and financially secure.

Today, she lives in Tokyo and is working on the final edit of a book on her experiences, aptly titled “Tribulations d’un croupier” (A Croupier’s Misadventures). She shares with IMTAC some insights about her former profession.

What was your most enjoyable experience as a croupier?

My most enjoyable experience as a dealer is without a doubt the buzz I felt during a busy roulette game. My first big game was in Marrakech. There was a very big player at the table, and tensions were high. I was a “young” dealer then, and I can still feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, the excitement, the enthralling out of body experience, the extreme satisfaction of keeping up with the game. The amount of money staked on the table was insane and any little mistake could send the player into hysterics, so the pressure was incredible. But what an experience!

That is the beauty of a roulette* game: there is almost no limit to the buzz and to how busy it can get. The time limit of a spin makes it so exciting… for the players and for the dealer too.

What was your worst time?

This was in London, at a Black Jack table. The same players had been at it for a couple of hours, and the money on the table had reached an unusually high amount. As a seasoned dealer of 15 years, I knew something was up, but neither I, nor the pit boss, could put our fingers on it.

It turned out that the players were professional cheats. However, the management were looking into the dealers’ behaviour to check if they were to blame. Furthermore,

Isabelle on her wedding day in Japan, where she now resides. Her love of travelling was fulfilled early while she worked as a croupier.

“The croupier’s image, either sordid/ dodgy or extremely glamorous, both are fantasies. It’s a job. You are just an employee and you do your work.”

nobody had been able to spot anything wrong, not even security, yet they were blaming the dealers? I felt so betrayed.

Then it became known that the cheats had already been barred from one of the company’s other casinos, which had failed to inform OUR management. So I questioned whether the blame should be put on the dealers, given the circumstances. Eventually, the case was closed.

The insults from losing players, the stress, the pressure, I could cope with, but the distrust from my colleagues and management was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I hadn’t been enjoying my job for a while, but that was the final strike and I knew it was time to quit.

Which things did you like best about the job?

I really enjoyed dealing, physically (either the cards at Black Jack, or a roulette game). It’s also one of the very few businesses where education is irrelevant. Some were university students doing a summer job to pay for their fees and ended up making a career out of it, some were high school dropouts but turned out to be fantastic dealers. The skills required are a mix: multitasking is definitely one, being able to work under pressure, to read people too. Strangely enough, being good at maths is not really one of them. You need the ability to count obviously, but nobody cares HOW you do it. You need a very good “working memory”, and can use various memorization hacks. Personally, I was always visualizing the stacks of chips in my head.

Sometimes I see people in different businesses and think “they would have made a great dealer”.

Any myths you’d like to bust for us? Would you still recommend it as a career?

The croupier’s image, either sordid/dodgy or extremely glamorous, both are fantasies. It’s a job. You are just an employee and you do your work.

Also the “sexy” image of female dealers: players couldn’t care less about what you look like as long as you pay. To them, superstition trumps looks every time!

Obviously we all need (male and female) to look nice, and well-groomed because we work in the service industry and people are paying to be in pleasant surroundings, but no more so than for a luxury brand.

AND finally, the biggest myth of all: there’s no fixing or secret tricks we can do to make people win or lose. The games are designed to give the house (the casino) a slight advantage. And in the long run, the casino will always make a profit. Casinos don’t need to cheat, human greed and human nature do a great job all by themselves! Nowadays slot machines are taking over unfortunately. However most casinos still have many tables and croupiers are always needed. There’s no unemployment in this business.

I would recommend it if you enjoy travelling, it’s a great human experience too (we are all equal when it comes to gambling, and you learn so much about people). As a young woman it gives you financial independence (the wages are good and equal between genders). However, any job dealing with the public can be tough. Multiply that exponentially, and you have an idea of the stressful situations we face.

Any regrets?

None whatsoever! It made me the person I am now, but after a while it takes its toll physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s a great job to do for a few years but not for a lifetime. Have a backup plan.

I quit at the right time. |