CASINO HEALTH AND FITNESS


Croupiers work under extremely difficult conditions when it comes to their health and physical fitness. Shift work doesn’t allow a person the luxury of an every day routine. When it comes to eating, who knows what time of day breakfast or dinner is going to be and for the most part the main meal of the day is served in the casino's cafeteria, with very little consideration for calories and necessary vitamins.


Add to this the fact that a croupier's break is only 20 minutes in which he or she has to wash, dine and return to the gaming floor. It doesn’t leave much time for digestion.


The same applies when it comes to exercise its impossible to get into a regular routine. The casino floor offers only a Smoke-filled environment with lots of stress from losing and intoxicated punters and let’s not forgets the sexual harassment that takes place.
Sleep patterns are an absolutely massive problem for croupiers leaving them feeling exhausted and lethargic. All this spills over into their family lives.

Relationships are constantly under pressure because of the antisocial lifestyle of a casino worker. Some of the more common medical complaints suffered by croupiers are back pain, which I suffer from myself from time to time, neck ache, shoulder, eye and throat problems are all common complaints.


A report by the GMB union in Scotland stated that

One in five croupiers suffered from carpel tunnel syndrome

Arthritis and problems with feet are also quiet common, many of my current and former work colleges suffer from most of these ailments.






Threats of violence

I can personally relate to this one I wouldn’t like to have the mathematical problem of calculating the amount of times punters have threatened to rip my head off, damage my property or get me fired. Although personally to date I’ve managed to avoid all of these situations, I know of some croupiers that have been hit in the head with a glass ash tray, a bottle, fist and even one croupier that was stabbed with a bayonet from a world war one rifle.
Even more shocking is the journey home after a graveyard shift where croupiers have been mugged, and in one particular case that I really don’t care to remember. A female dealer was raped and her boyfriend gun butted. Even the ride home can be stressful.


So having brought to light some of the problems casino workers have to deal with on a daily basis, its only fair that I attempt to offer some solutions, so let me start by mentioning a conversation I had with a Dutch co worker who said to me that in Holland, casinos addressed the physical situation of croupiers some time ago and with some success.

Although personally I've been unable to get any concrete information on this matter I suggest casino operators look into the issue. As far as diet is concerned, both parties need to take some responsibility as a casino operator its not difficult or any more expensive to offer a more healthy and nutritious menu

As a croupier its your responsibility to yourself to select the right food and not all the fries and grease. Its also your responsibility and yours alone to make sure you get regular exercise. Its in the best interest of both parties to address these situations as soon as possible, as a croupier you will live a little longer and feel a whole lot better and as a casino operator you're going to get a lot more value for money from your staff and there might not be quiet as many croupiers padding around like a herd of swamp donkeys.