West Viriginia CC First Poker Dealers Graduate

You made it! You've graduated college and now it is time to see if you can get a job within your major. West Virginia Northern Community College graduated the fist group of poker dealers. Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center officials will now start the process of choosing which of the graduates will work best with the new table games being offered there.

President and GM of the racetrack, Robert Marshal said, ‘‘we'll start the auditions and interviewing process this week, we're really excited about it.''

There is a process that dealers will go through that will let them show not only their basic card skills but also skills that extend beyond just the cards. After the audition is over, each dealer will receive an overall score determining how well they followed procedures.

There were 320 total that signed up for the six week course, some did not complete it and some continued on to get further training in roulette and blackjack. Marshall estimates there are about 100 graduates that will be looking for employment at the new US Poker Room in Wheeling Island.

The racetrack would like to have 300 working at the gaming tables and 500 to choose from and it looks like they have a little time to meet that goal. The WV Lottery Commission has announced it will not be ready with its new employees who will serve as regulators at table gaming casinos until November.

Though they have hoped to have poker games going by Labor Day, the new target date is now Nov. 1st with blackjack and roulette to follow quickly. So to all those looking for a job as a casino dealer, you will have to wait a little longer.