Island to Audition Dealer Class Grads

By JOSELYN KING
WHEELING — The first group of potential poker dealers has graduated from West Virginia Northern Community College.

Now it’s audition time for them.

Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center President and General Manager Robert Marshall said track officials next will begin to consider which of the graduates will be best to work new table gambling offerings there.

‘‘We’ll start the auditions and interviewing process this week,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re really excited about it.’’

Marshall said there is ‘‘a whole process’’ that dealers must demonstrate at their auditions that extends well beyond basic card skills. They will receive a score on how well they follow procedures.

West Virginia Northern officials knowledgeable about the table gambling program weren’t available Monday to comment on how many completed the six-week courses last week, but Marshall estimated approximately 100 graduates will seek a job dealing poker at Wheeling Island.

There were 320 who initially signed up for table gambling classes at WVNCC. While some did drop out of the program, many who completed the six-week program are continuing on to receive additional training in such table games as roulette and blackjack.

The racetrack hopes to eventually hire more than 300 to work at table gambling there, and officials would like to have more than 500 applicants to choose from.

The track will have more time to achieve this goal than originally thought.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission announced last month that it will not have its own new employees — those who will serve as regulators at table gambling facilities — properly trained until at least November.

Wheeling Island had hoped to have poker games at the track by Labor Day, with roulette and blackjack to follow.

The new target date for the games is Nov. 1, Marshall said. It could be a long wait for those seeking to be dealers on opening day.

‘‘A lot of them already have jobs in the facility,’’ he said. ‘‘They are also taking other classes.’’

The additional time also could help the track find additional applicants, who would need to take the required classes. Marshall added that another 40 signed up for the second round of classes that began last week.

Training for poker games takes six weeks and costs $350. Instruction in craps and roulette is more involved and takes up to 12 weeks. The cost for these classes is $600.

Hirings of prospective dealers will be based on their card dealing skills and how well they interact with those at the table, track officials have said. The average salary for a dealer is expected to be $35,000, largely based upon tips received.