National Harbor Launches Dealer School to Fill 1,000 Jobs

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD – A different kind of school is about to open in Prince George's County, and students who successfully complete it could hit the jackpot with a job as a casino game dealer.

MGM National Harbor, the resort set to open later this year, has announced the Prince George’s Community College Dealer School, a new workforce training program launching May 16. According to a news release, the school will provide potential candidates with the skills needed to apply for the nearly 1,000 jobs in the resort’s casino table games department.

“MGM National Harbor table game dealers will represent nearly one-third of our workforce,” said Logan Gaskill, vice president of human resources for MGM National Harbor. “Dealer School will open the door to new career opportunities for many members of our community."

Prince George’s Community College will lead the training for prospective workers who would be out front with casino customers.

Hosted by the college’s Office of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts Institute, Dealer School will offer candidates the opportunity to learn traditional games including blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat.

Seasoned industry professionals from MGM National Harbor will lead classwork, and teach students the skills required to work at a world-class casino. Students who successfully complete Dealer School will be equipped with the necessary tools to launch a career at the resort.

Charlene M. Dukes, president of Prince George’s Community College, said, “Knowing that thousands of jobs will be available in the very near future for anyone with the desire to learn a unique industry standard and bolster their professional skills is remarkable.”

The Dealer School will offer students a six-week blackjack course. Following successful completion of the blackjack program, students will choose between two tracks, either a 12-week craps course, or a combined eight-week roulette and four-week baccarat course. MGM National Harbor’s instructors will be available to help students determine their best career path.

Classes will be held Mondays through Thursdays for three hours each day, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions to suit students’ scheduling needs. All classes will take place at 7100 Oxon Hill Road in Oxon Hill, less than a mile from the MGM National Harbor resort site.

Tuition for dealer school begins at $380. Tuition assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Completion of Dealer School will not guarantee a job offer from MGM National Harbor. To apply, all candidates, including experienced dealers, will have to complete the following requirements:

• Successfully audition on dealing two games;
• Demonstrate exceptional customer service skills;
• Consent to a mandatory drug test and background check; and
• Be eligible and approved for a license from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission.

Watch this video from Jeff Elmore, MGM National Harbor’s vice president of table games, to learn what MGM looks for in a dealer.

For more details on how to enroll in Dealer School, visit http://www.pgcc.edu/dealerschool/ or contact the Prince George’s Community College’s Office of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts Institute.