Asia Pacific Management Information
(AGMI) & International Club Games Training Centre (ICGTC) - Casino Croupier
Colleges in Singapore
By Donn Richard
December 2008
Singapore
When word
came that Resorts World at Sentosa and the Marina Bay Sands had put their
recruitment drive into high gear, Singaporedice observed a noticeable increase
of interest from the part of Singapore citizens looking for the latest
information on casino related study options available to them.
With this in mind Singaporedice decided for an article for ambitious individuals
seeking a career in the casino industry and as a follow-up to “The Study Options
for Prospective Casino Dealers in Singapore - Part I?published in November 2007.
There are now nine colleges offering casino related studies in Singapore. Only
two offer practical casino dealer training, namely AGMI & ICGTC.
International Club Games
Training Centre (ICGTC),
the first and largest casino training centre in
South East Asia boasts no less than 15,000 square
feet of floor space able to accommodate
350 trainees at any one time. This state-of the-art
training facility includes a mock pit area, the
CASINOLAB? gaming tables and casino equipment
such as a chip bank, a cashier cage and the latest
Casino Management System.
ICGTC offers:
The Certificate in Dealing Casino Games
In this comprehensive Croupier certification course, students will learn basic
dealing skills, get an overview of casino gaming and learn to deal Roulette,
Baccarat, Blackjack, Tai Sai and Casino War.
Apart from the hard-skills, students will also undergo training in the Star
Dealer Programme, which includes Casino Customer Service for Front-liners,
Grooming and Floor Etiquette, Interpersonal Skills and Gaming Protection.
The course serves as foundation to continue supervisory and management
education.
The Certificate in Table Games Supervision
This is the progression course for students who have completed the Certificate
in Dealing Casino Games. It follows the natural learning path of casino table
games and floor supervisors.
This course is unique to ICG and specifically designed to help those without
casino work experience to prepare for supervisory positions or strengthen their
value to seek employment in the casino.
In this course, students will learn practical skills to inspect gaming tables,
supervise subordinates and players, learn the functions of a Pit Boss and gain a
deeper understanding of casino management.
The course includes seminars on Casino Mathematics (Game Expectations),
Protection from Cheats and Scams, Casino Marketing, Casino Treasury, Slots
Operations and Problem Gambling.
Graduates from this course will be well prepared for supervisory positions in
the casino and are expected to progress swiftly up the ranks.
Certificate in Casino Management (Floor Operations)
- [Most POPULAR Course at ICG]
“It is the most complete certification course available anywhere in the world for those aspiring to boost their chances of acquiring supervisory or trainee managerial positions in the casino,?said, Mr Tan Kim Guan, Academic Head at ICG.
Trainee Croupiers busily practicing the art of
dealing @ ICG
The Diploma in Tourism & Hospitality (Casino Management) ?[in collaboration
with Nanyang Institute of Management]
The Diploma programme is jointly developed by Nanyang Institute of Management
and International Club Games Training Centre to cater to the demands of the
growing leisure and hospitality industry.
The combination of tourism and hospitality management modules, casino floor
management and vocational casino games dealing skills prepares graduates to be
perfect candidates for employment in casinos.
This is one of the leading diplomas in Singapore with a critical component of 8
months industrial attachment in Singapore.
The Casino Games Operation Foundation, Gaming Supervision and Pit Operations
Management modules under the diploma are conducted by ICG at ICG’s CASINOLAB?
The Certificate in Dealing Poker Games - [NEW]
Games based on poker rules are fast gaining popularity in Asian casinos,
according to Mr Tan Kim Guan, ICG’s Academic Head.
“Apart from the ever present Caribbean Stud Poker, over the last 2 years the
Casino Texas Hold’em,
3-Card Poker and Pai Gow poker have been introduced and are well received by
Asian players who prefer game play which involves higher level of skills. In
fact the Texas Hold’em played with house as banker has overtaken Blackjack as
the preferred skill based casino game. Students can now get certified to deal
four of the most popular casino poker games and at the same time pick-up Texas
Hold’em Tournament dealing skills in just 2 weeks. ICG’s comprehensive and
intensive course will ensure students meet the dealing certification standards
for your professional enhancement,?said, Mr Tan Kim Guan.
ICG invites the public to visit the school and join a seminar, aptly named,
“Rewarding Career as a Casino Professional?by casino veteran, Mr Rickie Phuah,
Head Trainer at International Club Games Training Centre (ICGTC).
Mr Guan also told Singaporedice that ICG offers the unique “Learn with Friends and Family Scheme.?
ICG trainees during a class session
ICG believes in peer motivation and encourages their students to learn along
with their friends or family members. To promote this spirit of learning, ICG
offers a price discount for 3 or more friends and/or family members who enroll
into a casino study course of their choice, together.
Asked about the reasons students should choose ICG over any other Casino
Training College, Mr. Tan Kim Guan replied that International Club Games
Training Centre (ICG) is the premier casino skills training and research centre
to cater for professional development of casino workers in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Established in 2005 by gaming industry veterans with a combined experience of
150 years, ICG offers world-class training facility and sets the benchmark for
gaming training and education with its high quality courses for both the public
and casino employees.
Focusing on vocational training to meet employment standards of casinos, ICG
introduced the Certificate in Dealing Casino Games in June 2006 with the
objective of producing professional dealers and to provide a strong foundation
for those aspiring for a career in the casino industry.
“It is our belief that such a foundation will help to accelerate the students?
career development upon gaining employment at entry positions, said Tan.?
In January 2007, ICG launched the world’s first casino vocational course to
provide training for functions of Table Games Inspector, Pit Supervisor and Pit
Manager.
The Certificate in Casino Management (Floor Operations) is the only course
available to close the gap between dealing skills training (as available in
countries such as USA, Britain, Australia, Macau) and higher education casino
management diplomas and degrees as offered by universities in USA and Europe
(and recently in Singapore).
It is worth noting that since ICG was founded in 2005, over 500 students have successfully graduated to date, and that hundreds of ICG graduates have successfully gained employment with major casino operators throughout the region such as Star Cruises and The Venetian Macao.
Trainer & Trainees @ ICG
Singapore’s second Casino Dealer College, Asia-Pacific Gaming Management
Information (AGMI) founded in 2007 and part of the world’s largest casino school
chain, offers exciting casino study programmes too.
AGMI offers:
The Certificate in Pit Games Management - [Most
POPULAR Course at AGMI]
The Certificate in Pit Games Management is part of AGMI’s Pro-Dealer Programme.
It’s a three-in-one combo consisting of popular casino games: Roulette,
Blackjack and Baccarat.
This course has been specifically designed for students seeking hands-on
practice dealing in the three most popular casino games.
The curriculum for this certificate course has been developed by Dr Alan Soh,
Founding President and Head Trainer of AGMI.
AGMI prides itself by offering students a step-by-step approach to learning the
mechanics of dealing each game.
Mr. Reven Wee, Sales and Marketing Manager at AGMI: “this course is developed
based on gaming industry skill competency standard; and on completion of the
course units, our students will have gained the full knowledge and application
skills needed to interact with guests and will be able to apply them to the work
place efficiently.?/font>
Interestingly, at AGMI, students have the option to take Casino Game Dealing Certificate courses separately and/or start off with an introductory course.
“The curriculum for the Introductory Courses allows students a basic hands-on skill;
basic but essential knowledge about the games, casino equipment, procedures, rules
and payment,?said, Mr. Reven Wee, AGMI’s Sales and Marketing Manager.
Dr
Alan Soh President of AGMI (second from right) & Croupier Trainees on a
field trip at the Grand Lisboa Casino in Macau
The Diploma in Integrated Resort Management ?[in collaboration with Dimensions
Institute]
The Diploma programme is jointly developed by Dimensions Institute and
Asia-Pacific Gaming Management Information (AGMI) to meet the demands of the
ever growing travel, tourism and hospitality industry.
Students who wish to undertake the Diploma in Integrated Resort Management with
Dimensions will be undertaking their practical casino modules which includes
Baccarat, Blackjack and Roulette dealing lessons at AGMI.
Students from AGMI who wish to further their studies and obtain a Diploma in
Integrated Resort Management with Dimensions will be able to gain exemptions for
the casino modules.
Students spend nine months on theory and practical class lessons at AGMI Casino
Dealer College and Dimensions Institute, and another six months working in the
industry gaining practical experience.
“The diploma modules are carefully structured to allow our students to acquire
skills and knowledge related to Food & Beverage Operations, Accommodation
Operations and Casino Management. On-The-Job training (Industry Attachment) is
also incorporated to enable our students to gain real life job experience,?
said, Mr. Reven Wee, AGMI’s Sales and Marketing Manager.
AGMI
Croupier Trainees at Grand Lisbao Casino in Macau
Reven Wee: “our Diploma in Integrated Resort Management is unique in the world as it is endorsed by The Casino College ?world’s largest casino college chain.?/font>
AGMI's state-of the-art
training facility at Mova Bldg on Jalan Kilang
Introductory to gaming career courses currently available at AGMI ?[NEW]:
Baccarat
Blackjack
Roulette
Casino gaming courses that can be taken as a
separate study module are:
Baccarat
Blackjack
Roulette
Caribbean Stud [NEW]
Pai Gow Poker [NEW]
Pai Gow Tiles [NEW]
Texas Hold’em [NEW]
As for Scholarships; AGMI offers a unique and a one-of-a-kind scholarship, aptly
named, “AGMI Pro-Dealer Program Interest Free Study Loan Scholarship?
This scholarship is open to Singapore nationals and permanent residents only.
According to Reven Wee, the study loan is only available for candidates choosing
the Pro-Dealer Study Program.
AGMI
trainees with Wynn Macau Casino Manager
When the scholarship recipient receives an offer of employment from one of the Integrated Resorts in Singapore, the recipient is obligated to repay the remainder or 50% of the course fee back to AGMI.
Only when the scholarship recipient is unsuccessful in securing a position with one of Singapore's IRs, the 50% balance of the course fee is waived. However, if the scholarship recipient rejects employment in a casino offered by one of Singapore’s IRs, the candidate is obligated to repay the remaining 50% balance of the course fee.
Seminars/previews are held by appointment only at AGMI. But Mr Reven Wee assured
Singaporedice that members of the general public are welcome for a FREE trial,
no-obligation first lesson; adding that training sessions can be conducted in
both English and in Mandarin.
Mr Raven Wee also confirmed that field trips to G2E gaming conferences are
organized on a regular basis and that monthly study tours on-board of cruise
ships are all part of AGMI’s quest in providing trainees with the best possible
casino training experience available in Singapore.
“Our focus is on providing students with practical dealing skills which will
enable them to utilize in future employment in the gaming industry, said, Mr
Reven Wee, Sales and Marketing Manager at AGMI.?
International Club Games
Training Centre (ICGTC)
200 Turf Club Road
#02-03/09
Singapore 287994
Phone: (65) 6467 1890
Fax: (65) 6469 8801
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 9.15pm to 7pm
Sat: 9.15pm to 2pm
General Enquiries:
info@icgtraining.com
Student Affairs:
admin@icgtraining.com
Corporate Enquiries:
corporate@icgtraining.com
Asia-Pacific Gaming Management Information (AGMI)
No. 22 Jalan
Kilang
Mova Building #05-01
Singapore 159419
Phone: (65)
6273 2630 , 6273 2631
Fax: (65) 6273 2636
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
Sat: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
General Enquiries:
info@agmi.sg
Collaboration Opportunities:
benny@agmi.sg