The public has its first chance to tour the new dealer school at Westmoreland Mall this weekend, which is slated to produce employees for the casino under construction at the Hempfield facility.
From 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, those interested in the school can speak with experienced table game dealers and learn what it’s like to work in the casino industry. Live dealing demonstrations of various table games will be featured.
Eight blackjack tables that can be converted into games such as Texas Hold ’em, Let It Ride and Criss Cross poker, along with a roulette wheel, make up the school located in an empty storefront in the former Sears wing of the mall.
The school, which begins Aug. 17, will admit 120 students. Of those, between 60 and 70 are expected be hired at Live! Casino Pittsburgh, being built in the former Bon-Ton space at the mall. The $150 million casino, owned by The Cordish Companies in Maryland, is expected to open before Thanksgiving.
Plans for the space include 750 slot machines and 30 table games along with dining and entertainment options.
Those attending dealer school will begin with a five-week course focused on blackjack and carnival games. After that, students can pursue three additional training tracks — craps (an additional six weeks), roulette (an additional five weeks) or carnival games (an additional two weeks.)
“The way they train them, the way they invest in them and coach them, it’s not easy to fail at this,” Sean Sullivan, vice president and general manager of Live! Casino Pittsburgh, said last week. “I want people to know that it’s sometimes intimidating, it’s sometimes fearful and so on, a little anxiety, but at five weeks you’ll be feeling your oats.”
The open house follows a dozen information sessions that attracted several interested parties, said Sylvia Detar, director of continuing education at Westmoreland County Community College. The sessions are a requirement for being admitted to the school. Those who attend the open house fulfill that requirement, according to the WCCC website.
Additional sessions will be held this month. Visit westmoreland.edu and search for dealer school to find a full schedule.
Registration for the open house is not required.
