Program Overview: Programs in Casino Management
Majors Overview June 3, 2015Get information about different programs in casino management, including certificate, associate, and master’s programs, and their educational requirements, coursework, career choices, and job and wage outlook.
Information on Casino Management Programs
Schools do not offer master’s degree programs in casino management. Those interested in learning about casino management may enroll in a certificate or associate degree program. Those seeking graduate study related to casino management may enroll in a master’s degree program in hospitality management. Students usually complete certificate programs within one or two semesters, while they would need two years of study, including general education courses, to complete associate’s degree programs. An overview of every aspect of the casino business is given to students, including lodging and food service. Coursework discusses regulations regarding gaming and may include accounting and employee supervision.
Management and business training are available through master’s degree programs in hospitality management whereby students are trained to assume upper-level executive and management roles in the hospitality industry. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, and industry experience is a requirement for some programs. Online courses are in many programs. After students complete a year of coursework, a master’s degree in hospitality management is awarded.
Certificate Programs in Casino Management
Certificate programs give casino managers familiarity with the gaming industry’s unique aspects. Individuals learn about game supervision, applicable laws, and numerous popular games offered in casinos. Given that casinos are often comprehensive resorts with lodging and restaurants, familiarity with hospitality management is also imparted to trainees.
Coursework
Coursework is devised to train students in many aspects of casino operation, including food service and card games. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Managing slots
•Casino human resource management
•Supervision of casino games
•Gaming laws
•Hospitality accounting
Associate Programs in Casino Management
The gaming industry has enjoyed nationwide growth justifying the offering by schools of associate degree programs in casino management. Casino managers enrolled in these programs learn about gaming laws among numerous other technical aspects of running a casino. They also learn about the general managerial aspects required for the hospitality industry.
Students enrolled in associate degree programs develop their understanding of effectively managing employees, marketing the facility to the public and following legal regulations. Students typically need more time to complete these programs as compared with the time taken to complete certificate programs in casino management; they may gain a more in-depth education in the field.
Coursework
Students enrolled in associate degree programs for aspiring casino managers are given training in the numerous departments of gaming facilities, such as surveillance, hiring, game operations and food service. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Probability and odds in gaming
•History of gaming
•Food and beverage service management
•Casino marketing
•Casino security
Job and Wage Outlook
In 2010, the gaming industry hired over 177,000 employees, of whom 3,300 held gaming manager positions (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Over the 2010 – 2020 decade, a job growth rate of 11% was predicted for gaming managers (BLS). The projected growth was attributed to various factors, such as the relaxed gaming laws in numerous states driving the expansion of gaming facilities in such states. In May 2014, gaming managers brought in an average annual wage of $75,590.
Master’s Programs in Hospitality Management
A master’s degree in hospitality management, while not mandatory for seeking occupation in the casino management industry, would benefit those seeking career advancement into senior leadership positions at resort casinos. Enrolled students develop their technical skills relevant to numerous kinds of hospitality industries. Schools often structure these programs for working professionals and may offer them in online, on-campus or hybrid formats. Specializations in areas such as hospitality, marketing, education or law may be in some programs.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree. Some schools require students with a bachelor’s degree in an area other than hospitality management to complete several prerequisite courses before allowing them to start with core coursework. Applicants to many programs are required to have previous experience in managerial positions in the hospitality industry.
Coursework
Program graduates are ready for leadership positions in fields such as tourism, gaming, and lodging. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Hospitality marketing
•Human resource management in the hospitality industry
•Tourism industry analysis
•Legal issues in the hospitality industry
•Casino management
Career Choices
Program graduates may not only seek careers in casino management, but also in other hospitality fields. They may choose from possible job options such as:
•Event manager
•Catering manager
•Hotel manager
•Restaurant manager
•Food and beverage manager
