Best US States to Live and Work as a Casino Dealer

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 4.88 / 5 💥🎲

Washington takes the top spot with perfect scores in earnings and tips, thanks to a $16.66 minimum wage and a 17.8% tipping rate. Dealers here earn an impressive average of $40,821 per year, with no state income tax cutting into their pay. Job availability is high, supported by 35 major tribal casinos like Tulalip and Muckleshoot. Washingtons lifestyle score of 5.00 underscores the overall benefits for casino dealers, making it the best place to work in the industry.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 4.63 / 5💥🎲

Home to some of the country’s most high-stakes casino floors and biggest tipping players, California takes the silver medal on our list. 81 casinos including major players like Pechanga and Yaamava’ Resort means great job availability, while dealers earn an average of $40,257 per year. But dealing in the Golden State also means dealing with the high cost of living. Residents here pay 6% income tax while the living wage is $28.72 ($6 more than the national average of $22.86).

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 4.54 / 5 💥🎲

No state is more synonymous with gambling than Nevada, which scored perfectly on job availability with a staggering 365 casinos in the state, including two of the luckiest casinos in the US. The round-the-clock gaming scene here keeps dealers in high demand, and although base wages are lower—averaging $24,960 with a $12.00 minimum wage—the 18.1% tipping rate helps boost dealers’ total average income to $29,477. Plus, no state income tax keeps more cash in dealers’ pockets.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 4.15 / 5 💥🎲

Oregon’s expanding casino industry offers great earning potential, with dealers taking home a total average of $36,354 per year — nearly 8k above the national average of  $28,363.39. Wages here are topped off with a solid 18.9% tipping rate, but with a job availability score of just 1.67 and only 10 casinos in the state, landing a role may be a challenge. That said, once you do, the earning potential remains strong, though the state takes a hefty cut with 8.75% income tax — the highest among the top five states.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 4.07 / 5 💥🎲

Montana has an impressive 114 casinos, making it the second-highest state for casino count among the top five, behind only Nevada. Dealers here benefit from a tip-friendly culture, with gratuities averaging 19.8% and boosting total earnings to around $26,288 per year. While base wages aren’t the highest, Montana’s lifestyle score of 3.38 reflects a cost of living that helps balance it out. For dealers looking for steady work without the fast pace of larger gambling markets, Montana is an ideal choice.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 1.18 / 5 👎🎲

Kansas is one of the toughest states for casino dealers, with a rock-bottom $7.25 minimum wage while the living wage sits at $21.06. Most dealers fall short of the living wage, earning just $18,050 per year after tips. Employment opportunities are scarce, with a job availability score of 1.67 & 10 casinos in the whole state. When the economy leans more on crops than cards, dealing in Kansas is far from a winning hand for dealers looking to make a buck.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 1.17 / 5 👎🎲

With horse racing running the show, casinos take a backseat, leaving Delaware with only three casinos and very little job opportunities. Despite a solid $15.00 minimum wage and an average income of $37,814.40 after tips, the state still ranks in the bottom five – but why? A lifestyle score of 1.51 reflects how quickly wages get eaten up by the cost of living, with a living wage of $23.43 and 5.5% income tax making it tough for dealers to stay ahead.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 1.15 / 5👎🎲

With only three casinos in the state, North Carolina offers limited opportunities for casino dealers. A job availability score of 1.30 reflects an industry with gambling laws restricting growth.  The minimum wage sits at a low $7.25, while the average dealer income after tips is just $18,005.52—well below the $22.54 living wage. The lifestyle score of 1.68 highlights the financial strain on dealers, making it a tough place to build a stable career.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 1.14 / 5 👎🎲

Low wages and few casinos make Alabama a tough place for casino dealers. The minimum wage here sits at just $7.25, while the average dealer income after tips is $17,960.28. A 5% income tax takes an additional bite out of earnings, making it even harder for dealers to stay afloat. To top it all off, Alabama has only three casinos, keeping job opportunities scarce. With better-paying jobs across state lines, many leave for greener pastures.

Dealer’s Jackpot Index Score: 1.11 / 5 👎🎲

With a high living wage of $26.65, Virginia dealers face an uphill battle to make ends meet. The minimum wage sits at $12.41, but even after a 19.1% tip boost, the average dealer income of $30,743.04 per year doesn’t stretch far — Especially with a 5.75% state income tax cutting into earnings. Additionally, Virginia has just three casinos, meaning job opportunities are rare to find. These high costs and limited jobs make it the most difficult state to make it as a dealer.

• Earnings (35%) factoring in minimum wages;
  
• Tips (35%) including average tip rates and total pay;
  
• Job Availability (15%), based on casino presence and legality;
  
• Lifestyle (15%) comparing actual pay to the cost of living and state taxes.