You see them behind casino tables, dealing cards and chips with pinpoint precision. But who are the croupiers really? At the JOA casino in Cannes Mandelieu, we met Monica Gosio Iovino, head of the Casino School, as well as three former students who are now croupiers in different casinos along the Riviera.
“We’re the ones who lead the game,” summarizes Monica Gosio Iovino, with a broad smile. With 35 years of experience in casinos, this enthusiast decided to create her own training school to address the shortage of croupiers on the Côte d’Azur. “I have spent my whole life in this field. After my daughter was born, I wanted to pass on this expertise and allow others to discover this profession.“
Because being a croupier is much more than handling cards or spinning a roulette wheel. The croupier ensures the smooth running of the games, supervises bets, distributes winnings, collects losses, and ensures that rules are followed. They are also an entertainer who explains the rules to players and creates a friendly atmosphere. “It’s a fascinating profession,” claims Monica. “There is human contact, the adrenaline of gaming, and a unique atmosphere, especially at night.”
A Technical Training
To practice this profession, specialized training is essential. In Mandelieu, the Casino School offers an intensive 280-hour program over seven to eight weeks, taught directly in a real partner casino for total immersion. Future professionals learn the essential games: English roulette, blackjack, ultimate poker, and Texas Hold’em, while developing key skills. Among these are quick mental calculations, dexterity, observation, stress management, and interpersonal ease.
Evaluation is continuous, punctuated by practical and theoretical exercises, and ends with a game simulation in front of an external jury. This jury is made up of casino managers. “It’s a crucial moment for the students,” she explains. “They show what they have learned in real conditions. And we take pride in having a 100% employment rate within three months following the training.”
Croupier, an Exciting Profession
With 100% overall satisfaction and 90% final success, the Casino School trains the most talented croupiers on the Côte d’Azur. Some students, now croupiers, share their experience and feelings within this school. “I am very satisfied with this training. Monica, the trainer, is very pedagogical. She allowed us to discover and learn the profession under the best conditions”, says Cody, 19 years old and a croupier at the JOA casino in Antibes La Siesta, for nine months. He explains having chosen this profession by following in the footsteps of his father, himself a former croupier.
But for others, the desire to be behind the tables comes from a different drive: a passion for numbers, human contact, or the adrenaline inherent in gambling halls. Jonathan, 24 years old, explains the reasons for this intriguing choice. “I have always loved games. When I saw the job offer to start this profession, I didn’t hesitate for a second. It’s been three years that I’ve been in this profession, and I am not disappointed.”
