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National Casino Forum launches contest to find UK's top dealer

The finest croupiers from all Britain’s major operators will do battle for the prestigious 2018 Dealer of the Year title.

The UK Dealer Championships, organised by the National Casino Forum, will test dealers’ technical skill, game control and hospitality, in a high-pressure environment overseen by championship judges. The eagerly anticipated all-day event is being hosted by Caesars Entertainment UK at the Sportsman Casino in London on February 27th from 10am-6pm.

A first prize of £2,000 is up for grabs, with cash prizes of £1,000 for the runner-up and £500 for third place. Up to 18 dealers are expected to take part and there will also be prizes for the Best Chipper, Pusher and Stacker and the dealer who demonstrates the best maths skills.

The overall winner and first runner-up will represent the UK at the European Dealer Championship (EDC) in Montenegro from 7-9 May 2018. Launched in 2007 by the European Casino Association (ECA), it is one of the premier events in the gaming calendar and last year brought together 33 participants from a record-breaking 20 European countries with 31 judges overseeing the competition. Antra Gaike, from Latvia’s Olympic Voodoo Casino, was crowned as Europe’s number one all-round performer after two days of fierce competition.

The 2018 UK champion will follow in the footsteps of Jamie Leigh Cummins, then of the Ritz Club and now at Park Lane Club, who was named last year’s top croupier.

Tracy Damestani, CEO of the National Casino Forum, said:

“The UK Dealer Championships will showcase the wonderful talent we have in this country. Dealers need to combine mental agility, card skills and hospitality, which makes it a highly theatrical event. A good croupier brings a sense of occasion to the casino floor and it is a great career opportunity for anyone looking to enter the industry”.

Sarah Robinson, Head of Group Marketing Caesars Entertainment EMEA, said:

“We are very proud to be hosting the championships at our Sportsman Casino in London. We are looking forward to a great day of competition and hope to see plenty of support for all the dealers taking part”.

Kate Chambers, Managing Director of the Gaming Division at Clarion Gaming, said:

“As an organisation which is steeped in gaming and responsible for a number of leading brands, not least ICE Totally Gaming, which is the biggest gaming technology event in the world, I am delighted to be able to work with our friends and colleagues at the National Casino Forum and the European Casino Association and support this blue riband event.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Oliver .