The table looks familiar at first.
Cards. Roulette wheel. Dealer in uniform.
Then you notice there is nobody sitting opposite them.
No chips are being pushed across the felt. No one is leaning in to ask a question. The dealer is looking at a camera.
That is where the job starts to change.
On a Vegas floor, the players are right there
Las Vegas dealer has the players right in front of them. One person is buying in, another wants a rule explained, and someone else is already waiting for the next hand. The dealer keeps the game moving through all of that, while also handling chips, payouts and losing bets.
There is plenty to keep an eye on.
The dealer watches the game itself, but also the table around it. Anything unusual has to be noticed and, when needed, passed on to a supervisor.
The physical side is easy to underestimate too. Dealers can spend long periods standing, reaching across the table, shuffling cards and moving chips.
Then somebody asks how a side bet works while another player is already waiting for the next hand.
That sort of interruption is just part of the floor.
A live dealer is speaking to a camera
An online studio feels much closer to a broadcast set.
There are gaming tables, cameras, lighting and production systems around the dealer. Players watch through a live video stream and place their bets through the website or app.
Some operators even use titles such as Game Presenter for the role.
That says quite a lot about how the job feels.
The dealer still runs the game. They deal cards or spin the wheel, plus they are presenting to people they cannot see.
There may be player messages on a screen. Game information can appear in front of them. The studio system may also control the pace of the round.
The camera never really disappears from the job.
The chips mostly stay out of it
A Vegas dealer may spend a lot of time handling money and chips.
A studio dealer usually does not.
Online bets are recorded by the platform, and balances are handled electronically. Current live dealer job descriptions often make a point of this: there is no cash handling and no physical player sitting at the table.
The cards and roulette wheel can still be real in many online casino games, but the payment side is happening elsewhere in the system.
That removes one set of physical tasks.
It also means the dealer has to work in step with the technology recording each round.
Talking to five people is different from talking to a camera
A floor dealer might have a handful of people within arm's reach.
You hear the reaction to a card straight away. You know who asked the question. You can tell when the table has gone quiet.
A live dealer may be speaking to a much larger group online.
The interaction is less direct. The presenter talks to the camera, announces what is happening and may respond to messages coming through the system.
There is no room full of players to read.
That puts more weight on clear speech and presentation. Studio training often covers that side of the job along with the rules of the games.
The physical strain changes too
Live dealing can look easier physically because there are no players or stacks of chips to manage.
The job still involves repeated movements for hours.
Some studio roles involve sitting at counter-height tables, moving both arms constantly and reading information from a screen several feet away.
A Las Vegas floor dealer is more likely to spend long periods standing and reaching across a waist-high table while handling cards and wagers.
Neither job is particularly passive.
They just wear you out in different places.
Training can start from a different point
Vegas casinos often expect dealers to arrive with dealing skills already in place.
Job listings may ask for blackjack experience, knowledge of several other games or an audition. Dealers also need the relevant Nevada gaming registration.
Studio operators can take another route.
Some live dealer roles are advertised with no previous casino experience required. New presenters can be trained in blackjack, roulette and baccarat, then coached on how to work on camera.
Knowing the game is just one part of the job. Looking comfortable while running it for an online audience is another.
The pace comes from different places
A busy Vegas table can get messy.
Someone buys in. Someone asks a question. A player takes too long. A drink arrives at exactly the wrong moment.
The dealer works through whatever is happening in front of them.
A studio is more controlled. Rounds follow the production system and the game procedure. The dealer has to keep things moving because the audience is already watching remotely.
There may be fewer random interruptions.
There is also nowhere for the game to wander off for a minute.
The camera is on.
Same table, different job
Both roles need accuracy, game knowledge and enough personality to keep the table from feeling dead.
After that, the working day separates pretty quickly.
The Vegas dealer is dealing with the people in front of them. The live dealer is working inside a studio, speaking to players through cameras and screens while the platform handles much of the money movement around the game.
At one table, somebody may slide a stack of chips across the felt.
At the other, the next player could be hundreds of miles away.
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